Scammers promise $12.5 million and a new car
The OPP is warning people of a new scam phone call in which the caller says you’ve won $12.5 million and a new car.
The caller then tells the potential victim that the money and car are at the border and all you need to do is pay the taxes due: $3500. A false customers officer name and call back number is then provided. The scammer proposes a credit card money order or other method of payment.
“You should never provide any personal information like credit card numbers or banking information to anyone you have not contacted for services. If you did not enter a contest for the above prizes this also should be a clue that something is wrong. Legitimate business will not accept gift cards or iTunes cards as payment” police said in a press release.
Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 to find more information on scams or go online: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
Two charged following RIDE checks
Haliburton Highlands OPP ran their usual Festive RIDE program between Nov. 23 and Jan. 2 checking 218 vehicles. The program is designed to detect impaired drivers and remove them from roadways.
The police issued one warn range licence suspension and charged two people with Criminal Code driving offences related alcohol consumption.
Updated distracted driving laws in effect
As of Jan. 1 penalties for driving with a handheld wireless communication device such as a cellphone have increased for drivers in Ontario.
The new penalty: fines up to $1000; three demerit points for first offence; three-day licence suspension; penalties rise for subsequent convictions.
Novice drivers will receive the same fines but will receive longer suspensions rather than demerit points. Details can be found at ontario.ca/distracted-driving.
Distracted driving doesn’t just involve a phone. It includes anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the vehicle including taking your eyes off the road taking your hands off the wheel and taking your mind off what you’re doing.
You could be charged with careless driving if you cause a collision or exhibit very poor driving directly related to being inattentive for example eating while driving reading a map while driving etc.
The fines and demerit points for careless driving are unchanged.
