MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Police Service is advising the public to be aware of the “STARS Lottery” phone scam that is once again circulating within Moose Jaw.
The “STARS Lottery Scam” is when the caller claims to represent STARS Air Ambulance and explains to the victim that they have won a new vehicle, or a cash prize, ranging from $30,000 to $350,000.
The fraudster will attempt to manipulate people by falsely claiming they have won an extravagant prize and ask them to send payment to claim their prize.
To protect oneself, the MJPS is encouraging people to always keep these points in mind.
You will never be asked to send money to claim any lottery prize. If you are being asked to send a cheque, money order, or payment of any kind to claim your lottery prize, it is a scam. Hang up the phone or delete the email immediately. If you become suspicious, check with STARS directly to verify if you are a winner and if the lottery is legitimate.
In some instances, the fraudster has demanded payment via gift cards to claim the prize. As a reminder, do not provide the scammer with the access codes for the gift cards under any circumstance.
The Moose Jaw Police Service would also like to remind people not to provide personal information such as their Social Insurance Number (SIN) or banking details over the phone.
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a scam, call the Moose Jaw Police Service at 306-694-7600. If you prefer to remain anonymous, call the Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, go online at p3tips.com, or download the mobile app.
For more information on fraud attempts, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
