Police warn of another scam in Cobourg

Cobourg Police Service is issuing a fraud alert following a recent email gift card scam.

In the recent report, the victim, a 76-year-old man, advised police that he received an email from someone posing as an old friend. The scammer informed the victim that their niece was suffering from a medical emergency and requested the victim send a $300 Apple gift card. The victim sent the gift card before realizing it was a scam. This investigation is ongoing.

In this type of scam, fraudsters use multiple tactics to trick their victim. Protect yourself from these types of scams.

Always verify the authenticity of any email or message claiming a friend or family emergency. Contact the friend or family member directly or through other trusted means before taking action.

Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency. Take time to verify the information before taking any action.

Legitimate organizations and individuals rarely request payment via gift cards. If asked to purchase or send gift cards, it’s likely a scam.

Look for signs of phishing, such as poor grammar, misspellings, and suspicious email addresses. These can indicate a fraudulent message.

Never click on suspicious links.

If you receive a suspicious email, report it to your email provider and local authorities.