Grey County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is asking residents to beware of a computer scam after they received a report from a Chatsworth resident stating they were a victim of a fraud.

On March 8, 2017 the victim had given remote access to an unknown person after her computer had frozen and a pop-up appeared instructing her to call "Elegant Soft Tech Systems". She discovered that her credit card had been charged $409.00. A "Google" search of Elegance Soft Tech Systems revealed the company was out of India and that there had been similar fraud complaints.

March is Fraud Prevention Month and this incident serves as a reminder to protect yourself from becoming victim of a fraud. Some basic tips include: never give out personal or financial information at the door, over the phone, by e-mail or through social media, or to unsecured retail or dating websites.

If you or someone you know suspect they've been a victim of fraud, contact your local police service or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre through a new, easy to use Fraud Reporting System (FRS). To report fraud or any crime anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (1-800-222-TIPS) or online at https://www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm

Fraud Prevention Month enters its 13th year in 2017. From January 2014 to December 2016, it is estimated that Canadians lost more than $290 million to fraudsters. For more fraud facts and figures and a downloadable booklet (PDF), visit The Competition Bureau of Canada website at http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04201.html or more information is available at Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

source: media release, Grey County OPP