Osoyoos RCMP are warning local residents about several scams that are making the rounds in Osoyoos.
In one scam, someone has been phoning people and claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The caller tells people they owe money to CRA and if they don’t pay $750 immediately, they will be arrested the following day.
Osoyoos RCMP advise residents to confirm all information before sending money or paying bills that could be fraudulent.
A second scam was reported to RCMP this week in which fraudulent ads are placed on Kijiji for rental properties in Osoyoos and Oliver.
The ads ask prospective renters to call a phone number. The person who answers says they are in Ohio due to a sick family member and if the renters send them deposit money, they will send keys for the rental properties to the new renters.
RCMP say this is a scam and is not true.
Recently a woman told the Osoyoos Times that she received an email claiming that her limit for electricity consumption had been exceeded and asking her to click a link to see her bill.
Sgt. Kevin Schur, commanding officer at Osoyoos RCMP Detachment, advised people to check with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (PhoneBusters) if they suspect a scam
(www.antifraudcentre.ca 1-888-495-8501).
“There is a constant flow of scams targeting people in Osoyoos that originate from the internet, through telephone calls and through the mail,” said Schur. “Almost all originate outside of Canada and are not subject to prosecution here.”
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