The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP have made an arrest in a months long case looking into an online scam.
Officers were alerted to the fraud back in May when a resident tipped them off to sketchy activity happening through an online marketplace.
As a result of the investigation, 34-year-old Samantha McLaughlin of Pembroke now faces four counts each of fraud under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
She was released to appear in a Pembroke courtroom on January 24th.
In the meantime, local police are warning that online shopping can put you at risk of sellers with nonexistent merchandise or “incredible deals” that aren’t real.
Here are some tips they say will protect you while making purchases online:
- Know who you are dealing with – confirm the seller’s identity
- Check the seller’s feedback that you are considering buying from
- Never make a deal outside the auction/marketplace site
- Don’t fall for pressure tactics
- Don’t erase any emails, texts, or voicemails from the seller
- If the asking price of a product is too good to be true, it probably is.
(written by Kasey Egan)
