Ottawa police issue warning over scam targeting businesses and hotels
The Ottawa Police Service is warning of a new fraud scheme targeting businesses and hotels in the city.
Police say the fraudster, usually male, will call an employee of the business claiming to be the owner or manager. They will say there is an urgent need to pay a bill related to the business and will direct the employee to gather funds from the register, safe or office.
They will then be asked to deposit it into a bitcoin machine or Western Union.
In some instances, police say, the suspect was familiar with employee names and the policies of the business.
Police did not specify how many businesses have been targeted but is reminding residents that no legitimate business would ask you to purchase gift cards or bitcoin to settle an account.
Anyone who has been a victim of fraud can make a report with the Ottawa Police Service online and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501.
More information on fraud prevention can be found at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on popular scams.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
Ontario man loses $1,500 applying for Nexus cards on social media
The trusted traveller program between Canada and the United States is extremely popular and almost two million Canadians have a Nexus card.
NEW Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked like
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.
Campus protests: Israeli academics say their universities are 'best chance' for peace
One of the demands of pro-Palestinian activists who have set up protest encampments on university campuses in Canada and the United States is a severing of ties with Israeli universities.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Weight-loss drug Wegovy available in Canada starting May 6
The makers of Ozempic say their weight-loss drug Wegovy will be available to patients in Canada starting Monday.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
NEW Companies letting customers opt out of Mother's Day ads
In an effort to balance the profitability of Mother's Day with the pain it causes some people, some brands are offering customers the choice to opt out of Mother's Day email advertising.