Man nearly duped by scam artist in Winchester

WINCHESTER – SD&G O.P.P. are warning you about lottery prize scams after a case in North Dundas this week.

Police intercepted a elderly man who was about to be duped while at an address on Main Street on Tuesday.

Investigators learned the man had been sent a bank draft from “Blue Cross” with instructions to cash it and send back a fee to the requesting agency.

The transaction wasn’t done and the police intervened.

Police are warning you to be careful to these types of lottery scams and prize fraud schemes, which are now ranked highest in terms of mass marketing fraud.

If you think you are being targeted or have become a victim you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through their online tip submission program.

The O.P.P. shared these tips to figure out if you’re being played by a scam artist:

• Never send money to anybody you don’t know and trust.
• Don’t provide personal banking details to anyone that you do not know and trust.
• Examine all of the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully. Claims of free or very cheap offers often have hidden costs. Calls to premium rate phone numbers or premium text messages can be very expensive.
• Ask yourself, “Did I willingly enter this contest?”