The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging residents to be cautious after two additional reports of cryptocurrency fraud in the region, bringing the total to seven cases so far in 2025.
In one incident on March 5, a Huron-Kinloss resident lost $4,000 after falling victim to an online pop-up scam. The ad falsely claimed that their computer had a virus and directed them to transfer cryptocurrency to fix the issue.
The following day, a Kincardine resident lost $11,000 in a fraudulent investment scheme. The victim sent funds to an overseas agency for what they believed was a cryptocurrency investment, only to realize it was a scam when they were unable to withdraw their money and were pressured to send more.
Authorities warn that scammers often use fake official-looking documents to convince victims to share personal information and banking details. Residents are encouraged to verify financial transactions directly with their bank or financial institution and avoid using contact details provided in suspicious documents.
Anyone with information about these frauds is asked to contact South Bruce OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
More fraud prevention resources are available at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
