February 9, 2026

TWO SCAMS TODAY COST TWO MUSKOKA PEOPLE ‘THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS’ INVOLVING ‘COMMUNITY CARDS’ AND ‘GRANDPARENT EMERGENCY’

MUSKOKA — The Bracebridge detachment of the OPP is warning the public about ongoing scams in Muskoka.

On Monday, February 9, officers responded to two separate reports of scams that has cost the victims thousands of dollars, they say.

During one interaction, scammers called the victim on the phone and convinced them that they were collecting gift cards to help those in need in the community.

The well-intentioned victim followed through on the request and ultimately lost several thousand dollars.

The second interaction involved what has become known as the “emergency scam” or “grandparent scam,” during which a phone call is made to the victim who is then convinced that their family member is in harms way and they require money.

Police say these calls can be emotional and stressful and unfortunately, thousands of dollars in this case, were lost to this scam.

Fraudsters put a great deal of effort into the tactics used to steal money from victims. Generally, they apply a lot of pressure and create an emotional response in their victims, which can lead to impulsive decisions. In most situations this involves the use of technology and the transfer of data or digital funds.

Scammers can target anyone, here are some tips to help protect yourself:

Don’t be afraid to say no
Slow things down and verify all information with a trusted source
Don’t give out personal information including your address, birthdate, social insurance number or credit card/banking information
Protect your computer and watch for urgent looking messages
Protect your online accounts and choose strong passwords
Recognize spoofing- fraudsters have the ability to manipulate the phone number appearing on your call display or text messages, even email addresses.
Never click on links received via text message or email.

For more fraud facts and figures and a downloadable booklet (PDF), visit The Competition Bureau of Canada website at https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/home or by visiting http://www.opp.ca, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Protect yourself from scams and fraud.