Beware of scammers pretending to be from Heart and Stroke Foundation: OPP

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is out with a warning about an active scam in the Hawkesbury area involving a well known charity.

The Hawkesbury Detachment of the OPP says the scam involved people pretending to be from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and that victims in the area have lost large amounts of money.

In this scam, police say the fraudsters typically call a victim and tell them they’ve won a large amount of money and a flat screen television. The person calling gives the fake name with an address in Toronto and a phone number, and when the victim calls the number back, someone answers “Heart and Stroke Foundation.”

Police have investigated and determined the Heart and Stroke Foundation do not work this way, and that if you have won anything through the organization, the prize is sent directly to the winner.

The OPP is reminding the public to never give out personal or financial information to anyone over the phone.

If you believe you’ve been contact by a scammer or have been defrauded, you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) by calling 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or by using their online reporting tool at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca.