NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH POLICE SERVICE
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On Sept. 15, 2020 at 10 a.m., an adult female victim received a phone call from an unknown adult male. He advised that he worked for the government, her Social Insurance Number had been compromised and someone had used it to rent a car. He also stated that the car was subsequently stopped by authorities and it contained a large volume of cocaine. She was instructed to send $3,800 in bitcoin or she would go to jail.
The victim then attended to a store located near the intersection of Gordon Street and Wellington Street East in the City of Guelph and sent the bitcoin as requested.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Constable Joshua van Breda at 519-824-1212 ext. 7417, email him at [email protected], leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online.
The Guelph Police Service would like to remind the public to be very cautious whenever dealing with anyone you don’t know, especially online and over the phone. Please also remember that a government employee will never request any member of the public to send bitcoins or gift cards.
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