The OPP are warning residents of northwestern Ontario to be aware of fraud after reports of a number of scams coming from communities in the region.
In a press release dated Sept. 14, 2026, members of the North West Region of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) highlighted a number of cases of suspected fraud or scam activity from this area of the province, and offered tips to protect against falling victim to these criminal activities.
According to police, there has been an increase in fraudulent calls from individuals who are posing as employees of telecommunications companies. These fraudsters are reportedly using high-pressure tactics in an attempt to convince victims to provide access to their electronic devices, online banking information, and other personal information. The calls may sound convincing, police said, but these callers are not actually affiliated with any telecoms companies, and have successfully duped residents of the northwest of the province to some degree, including in Fort Frances.
“In July 2026, a Kenora resident was told their telecommunications equipment was obsolete and required immediate replacement. During the interaction, the victim was directed to access their online banking and the scammer subsequently gained access to the account and attempted to steal funds,” the OPP said in their release.
“In August 2026, a Fort Frances resident was offered new telecommunications equipment and was persuaded to provide remote access to their computer. The scammer then falsely claimed the victim’s bank account had been compromised and convinced them to send money after alleging an overpayment had been made.”
The OPP are reminding the public that fraud can happen to anyone, and scammers are constantly evolving their tactics. In order to better protect yourself from scammers, the OPP are encouraging everyone to:
• Be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting access to your computer, banking apps, or personal information, especially those that pressure you to act immediately.
- Legitimate companies will not use aggressive or high-pressure tactics to obtain access to your devices or financial information.
- Be wary of requests involving unusual payment methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Never provide remote access to your computer or device to an unsolicited caller.
- Do not log into your online banking at the direction of someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
“Fraudsters may contact individuals through phone calls, emails, text messages, or other communication methods,” the OPP said.
“Their goal is to create a sense of urgency, build trust, and convince victims to act before verifying the legitimacy of the request. They create deals that sound too good to be true.”
If you are ever unsure of a caller’s authenticity, it’s a good idea to never give personal or financial information over the phone, and to hang up the call and independently contact the company using verified contact information, such as a phone number provided on the company’s website. Finally, if you believe you have fallen victim to a scammer or fraudulent call, contact your financial institution immediately in order to mitigate any access or damage the scammer could do if they successfully access your account.
“To help prevent victimization, please share this information, especially with those who may be at risk,” the OPP said.
“If you suspect you’ve been the victim of cybercrime or fraud report it to police at 1-888-310-1122 and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s (CAFC) online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If not a victim, report it to the CAFC anyway as it may save someone else.”
