The Portage County Sheriff's Department warns residents to watch out for Canadian con artists.
A local citizen was contacted by a person from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who attempted to scam him out of $2,500. This citizen received a phone call from someone who advised them that they have won $125,000 from a contest sponsored by Proctor and Gamble Company. The caller advised the woman that all she had to do was pay the partial taxes on the winnings. She was advised that she had to send $2,500, by Airborne Express, to Drake Glen, 299 Glen Lake Ave., No. 902 Code 224, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
When the lady explained that she couldn't afford $2,500 the caller immediately brought the amount to be sent down to $2,000.
The citizen became suspicious of the call and called the FBI about it. They advised her not to send the money and to contact the Portage County Sheriff's Department.
More and more scam artists are moving up to Canada because it is so difficult to prosecute them when they are out of our country, said deputy Jack Mrozinski of Portage County Crime Stoppers.
Remember never send money or give your credit card number to anyone who calls you on the phone, Mrozinski said. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is.