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Barrie Police are warning that international students are increasingly being targeted by scams.
March is Fraud Prevention Month.
Police say scammers often prey on individuals unfamiliar with Canadian systems, particularly when it comes to housing, employment and financial processes. One of the most common schemes is rental fraud, where victims are asked to pay deposits or rent for units that do not exist, are unavailable or are not owned by the person advertising them.
“Within the last year, Barrie Police has recorded over $100,000 in losses to rental scams that target international students,” says Detective Kris Nicholson with the Barrie Police Service Fraud Unit. “If you are unsure or unaware of the processes, please reach out to your student support office at your local College or University for further direction and assistance. As always, you are welcome to contact the Barrie Police Service at anytime for guidance and assistance as well.”
Police say other scams include fake job offers, tuition payment fraud and impersonation scams involving individuals posing as government officials, banks or immigration representatives. Victims are often pressured to act quickly and asked to send money through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or e-transfers.
Students are encouraged to view rental properties in person before making payments, research job offers independently and avoid sharing personal or banking information through unsolicited messages.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized is urged to contact police and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as fraud prevention efforts continue.
