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Eight ways to avoid getting ripped off

Members of the Kirkland Lake Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind local residents that there are many schemes being used to defraud the public and businesses. If you receive any correspondence by any means asking for money to be given or that you won money, be careful and suspicious. Never give out any personal, credit or banking information to anyone over the phone, by letter, email, fax or any other means of communication.
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NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

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KIRKLAND LAKE – Members of the Kirkland Lake Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind local residents that there are many schemes being used to defraud the public and businesses.

If you receive any correspondence by any means asking for money to be given or that you won money, be careful and suspicious.

Never give out any personal, credit or banking information to anyone over the phone, by letter, email, fax or any other means of communication.

What you can do to protect yourself:

Guard your personal information

  • Never give personal information out to anyone
  • Shield your debit/credit card PIN and never lend your cards
  • Report missing credit or debit cards
  • Shred documents with personal information
  • Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) should only be used for employment and tax information

Guard your computer and its information

  • Select complex passwords combining letters, numbers and symbols
  • Install firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and security software
  • Don’t buy and don’t reply to any spam or emails that ask for banking information

Remember this cardinal rule. If it’s too good to be true then be suspicious.

Anyone who receives any correspondence by means which they believe to be fraudulent are asked to contact the OPP or (Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre) at 1-888 495-8501.

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