Most people believe they would recognize a scam. But fraud doesn’t always look like fraud. And the people behind it are counting on that. “Fraudsters are skilled at gaining your trust, creating fear, and making you believe something is wrong that requires immediate action. They know how to keep you focused so you don’t question what’s really happening,” said the Barrie Police Service in a statement. Police say to watch out for these scenarios: With all of these scams, you’ll be asked to act quickly to avoid serious consequences. The voice on the other end of the line will urgently convince you to withdraw funds, direct you to a Bitcoin machine, talk you through how to deposit the money, and give reasons why you shouldn’t tell anyone. This is when the alarm bells should be ringing in your ear. Police say they see people doing all of the above - not because they’re careless, but because they’re convinced they’re protecting their family, their finances, or themselves. Barrie Police wants ask people to stop before doing anything and ask themselves: Fraud can happen to anyone. Victims are often left wondering how they didn’t see it coming. Most never report what happened because they’re embarrassed or believe they should have known better. But police say these scams are deliberately designed to manipulate people. Fraudsters count on their targets being too polite to hang up the phone and they count on their targets getting caught up in the moment. Police, government agencies and banks will never demand payment through a Bitcoin machine, gift cards, or send a courier to your door to pick up cash or financial cards. If someone is pressuring you to send money, police ask you to take five minutes. Step away from the situation, think about what’s being asked of you and talk to at least two people before doing anything. A legitimate request can wait, but a scammer doesn’t want you to.
