A Guelph woman in her 70s was scammed out of $5,800 by a caller claiming to be a lawyer.
The victim contacted police on Thursday to report the con artist’s call the day before.
A man who identified himself as a lawyer asked her for help to get someone out on bail, though she couldn’t remember the details of the conversation.
In turn, she went to her bank and withdrew $5,800 cash – having told staff staff it was for a vacation.
Still on the phone with the alleged fraudster, the victim went to a south end convenience store and was given instructions to deposit the cash into a Bitcoin ATM.
“Money deposited into a Bitcoin wallet is very difficult to trace and the transactions cannot be reversed. Residents are encouraged to be wary of any telephone call, email or text which requires you to take immediate action,” a police news release states.
“It is always best to independently contact the supposed sender and confirm the legitimacy of the correspondence before taking action. If you are unsure, ask a trusted friend or family member or call the Guelph Police Service for advice.”
