Beware of False Job Offers
The Ottawa Police Service is informing the public of an ongoing scam where people are being offered false employment opportunities.
The employment opportunities are offered on job sites, internet ads, unsolicited emails, unsolicited texts, or in newspapers.
Those who respond to the ads are told that they have received the job and are then sent payment by cheque, e-transfer or other means, which they are then instructed to deposit into their bank account. They are then asked to send a large portion of the money to somewhere else; usually by a money transfer company and keep the balance as payment. Once they send the money on, the bank calls to inform them that the cheque or e-transfer was fraudulent and that their account is overdrawn or frozen.
Sometimes the job might be as a “secret shopper” to test the services of a bank, store, or money transfer service.
This is a reminder to the public never to send money to anybody you do not know and trust. You can view tips<http://tinyurl.com/pnrbqew>.
The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is advising members of the public that are or have been victims of this scam to contact the Ottawa Police and make a report at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. The call centre is actively tracking all complaints and forwarding them to our Organized Fraud investigators. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa Police iOS app.