Cobourg Police are warning residents to be alert after a local senior fell victim to an email gift card scam.
Police say the 76-year-old man received an email from someone posing as an old friend. The message claimed the friend’s niece was experiencing a medical emergency and asked the man to help by sending a $300 Apple gift card. The victim complied and sent the card before realising it was a scam. The investigation is ongoing.
“This type of scam plays on people’s emotions,” Cobourg Police said in a release. “Scammers use urgent stories and high-pressure tactics to get quick responses.”
Police say there are steps people can take to protect themselves from falling victim to similar fraud attempts:
Always verify any emergency claim directly through trusted means.
Be wary of messages requesting gift cards as payment.
Watch for poor grammar, spelling mistakes, and strange email addresses.
Never click suspicious links or respond without confirming the source.
The Cobourg Police Service encourages residents to report any suspicious emails to their provider and local police. Victims of fraud are also encouraged to report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
(Written by: Joseph Goden)