NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
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South Simcoe Police are warning the public to be cautious when shopping online after an investigation led to the rare recovery of a victim’s stolen money.
On March 17, 2025, an officer from the South Simcoe police Alternate Response Unit received a report about an online scam involving Facebook Marketplace. The report advised a complainant lost $11,500 after responding to an advertisement for a vehicle. The seller appeared to be a trusted friend.
Through the investigation, police discovered that the suspect had stolen a person’s Facebook identity and used it to post the fake ad. The victim believed they were dealing with a friend and made several electronic payments for the vehicle. When the vehicle did not arrive as agreed, the victim realized they had been scammed and immediately contacted the police.
Thanks to a timely and thorough investigation, the officer was able to track the money and successfully return it in its entirety to the victim. This outcome is rare, as recovering funds from online fraud is often complex, involving multiple currencies, banking systems, and international jurisdictions.
Online fraud continues to be a growing problem, but staying alert and following safety guidelines can help protect the public from these types of scams. Reporting these types of scams can play a vital role in helping police solve ongoing criminal activity. With the South Simcoe police online reporting tool, we are making it easier and more accessible for the public to report non-emergency incidents, such as these types of fraud.
We encourage the public to use our online reporting tool to report fraud and thefts promptly.
Report it, so we can solve it: www.southsimcoepolice.on.ca/online-reporting.
Follow these safety tips to help protect yourself from online fraud and scams:
- Verify the seller’s identity — If you see an ad from someone you know, contact them directly by phone or in person to confirm it is really them and the ad is real.
- Be cautious with payments — Avoid sending money via e-transfer, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Use secure payment methods that offer fraud protection.
- Meet at a safe location — If possible, complete transactions in person at a public place.
- Look for warning signs — Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. Fraudsters prey on the “fear of missing out.” If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
If you have been a victim of a scam and suffered a financial loss, please report the incident online at www.southsimcoepolice.on.ca/online-reporting or contact South Simcoe police at 905-775-3311 or 705-436-2141. If you have seen this type of online scam but did not experience a financial loss, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
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