Members of the Bancroft OPP would like to remind residents to remain cautious and vigilant regarding Bank Investigator frauds, often targeting elderly persons.
In 2025, Canadian reported losing over $28 million to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, with an estimate of only 5-10% of victims reporting the fraud.
OPP are warning residents about an increasingly sophisticated fraud scheme in which criminals impersonate financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reporting bureaus, and online retailers in an effort to gain access to victims’ bank accounts and steal their money.
Often victims will receive a phone call or text claiming to be from their bank, law enforcement, a credit bureau, or a large company such as Amazon.
The caller advises that suspicious or fraudulent transactions have been detected on the victim’s account and claims that an urgent investigation is underway.
Victims are directed to withdraw their funds from their financial institutions and provide the funds to a courier who will attend the residence.
Victims may be told to place their bank cards and / or credit cards in an envelope with their PIN (personal identification number), in order to have their cards replaced.
Protect Yourself
· Do not trust caller ID. Criminals can spoof phone numbers to make calls appear legitimate.
· If someone claims to be from your financial institution, hang up and contact your bank directly using the phone number on the back of your bank card.
· Credit bureaus do not make unsolicited calls regarding account security. Contact them directly using information found on their official website.
· Banks, government agencies, and police will never threaten arrest or demand immediate action over the phone.
· Never provide remote access to your computer or mobile device to an unsolicited caller.
· Police and financial institutions will never send someone to your home to collect your bank cards.
To help prevent victimization, please share this information, especially with those who may be at risk.
If you suspect you’ve been the victim of cybercrime or fraud report it to police at 1-888-310-1122 and to the CAFC via the online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. OPP encourages residents to discuss these frauds with family members, particularly older adults and vulnerable individuals who are often targeted by fraudsters.
