The OPP are warning residents of a new scam that has been seen by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). The CAFC are calling this most recent scam the “Grant” scam. Grant scams are described as offers of guaranteed free money, however fraudsters will only collect personal and financial information, upfront fees, and leave consumers with empty promises. The most common and current variations of grant scams are Government Grants, Weight Loss Grants and Small and Medium-Sized Business Grants.
Government Grant scams occur when consumers come across an ad stating that they may qualify for free money that they can spend on anything. The Weight Loss Grant scam is where consumers will find ads for free weight loss grant programs, where the scammers promise to reimburse qualified candidates the larger part of their fees. Lastly, Small and Medium-Sized Business Grant scams are where business owners may be tempted by a look alike website claiming to offer government grants for businesses.
To learn about ways to protect yourself from scams and frauds, the OPP encourages community members to consult the Competition Bureau Canada, The Little Black Book of Scams.
