Scams and Fraud
If you’ve lost money to a scam or you’ve been the victim of identity theft, please call Guelph Police Service at 519-824-1212 to book an appointment.
If any of the following incidents have occurred please visit the non-emergency reporting page to file an online report.
- Identity theft or fraud
- Credit card fraud
- Internet fraud
- Personal fraud
Learn more about mobile internet safety and how to protect yourself from online and email scams.
4 Major Frauds to be aware of:
Romance Scams |
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Employment Scams |
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Home Improvement |
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Rental Scams |
#1 Never deal in cashNever pay with cash, wire transfer or hard-to-trace equivalents such as Moneygram, Bitcoin or MoneyPak. These forms of payment are impossible to track. #2 Never rent sight-unseenVisit in person to confirm the unit exists and matches what was advertised before signing a lease or making a payment (or have a friend, family member, or rental agent do so on your behalf). Though there are cases where a scammer has access to a unit and poses as a landlord, insisting on viewing the unit will reduce the chance of a scam. #3 Don’t hand over confidential information that can be used for identity theft
#4 Meet the landlord in personThough out-of-town landlords can be legitimate, insisting on meeting the landlord in person will lessen the risk of a scam and usually leads to better service. Be wary of a landlord that gives excuses for not being able to meet you or show you the unit. #5 Speak with the current tenantsCurrently occupied units are far less likely to be fraudulent ones. If you have a chance, speak to the current tenants outside of the presence of the landlord to confirm information the landlord has told you. This also allows you to find out how the landlord treats tenants and whether there’s anything unusual about the place. #6 Conduct basic researchGoogle the address of the unit and the landlord’s name, email, and phone number to confirm that the landlord/property management company exists, is associated with the property being listed, and if there are any complaints or scams online. Be wary of any landlord who tries to remain anonymous. #7 Be aware of too-good-to-be-true rent ratesThe Guelph rental market is extremely competitive, especially in the summer. Be suspicious of any rent or unit that is far below market rent or otherwise sounds too good to be true. #8 Be wary of high-pressure sales tacticsIf you feel like you are being pressured into signing a lease or sending money, consider this a red flag. Conduct thorough research on the property and landlord before committing. #9 Be wary of landlords that request little information about youMost legitimate landlords will at least request references or a credit check. #10 Demand a written lease
#11 Ensure the written lease identifies the owner or property management company
#12 Consider renting from property management companies
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Resources
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre |
You can report suspicious communication to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or to the institution that it appears to be from. You can also learn different types of fraud and how you can protect yourself. |
Other Helpful Resources |
You can learn more from: |