A Norfolk, Ont. resident has lost $100,000 to an online lottery scam.
The victim received a notification indicating they had won a lottery, they were then told in order to release the winnings they would need to send money to a link. The victim never collected any money.
“Scammers are increasingly using Facebook as a means of communication to target potential victims,” Norfolk Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said in a statement. “The OPP are warning all residents to be on the lookout for unsolicited Facebook messages claiming you’ve won a prize.”
Police say the way the scam works is that a person will receive a Facebook message, sometimes from people claiming to be a distant relative. “The scammer sends out mass email messages claiming they saw the consumer’s name on a list as a prize winner in a lottery or sweepstakes. A fee is requested up front but no winnings are ever received,” police say.
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