As we head into the holiday season, Ottawa Police Service, in partnership with 211, is reminding residents to be cautious of scams preying on your honesty, trust, good nature and sometimes fear. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. When in doubt, check it out – do your research.

Never feel pressured to provide information or make a financial contribution right away. In Ottawa, you can call 211 to speak to someone who can help you figure out if something is a scam,

IMPORTANT: If you’ve been a victim of fraud and lost money in a transaction, please report the incident to the Ottawa Police Service online reporting or by calling our Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.

Common scams circulating right now include:
• Merchandise scams
• Emergency (aka “Grannie”) scams
• Canada Revenue Agency scams
• Tech support and Refund scams

If you’re not sure if something is a scam call or not, here are a few tips:
• Hang up. If someone says they are calling from a reputable organization, like your banking institution, you should be able to contact your banking institution and verify the caller’s information or claim.
• Call 211 or phone a friend! Don’t be embarrassed! It’s becoming harder and harder to tell what is legitimate and what is a scam. 211 Ontario has a wealth of fraud prevention information and can help point you in the right direction if you need additional resources or support.
• Check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website or call them at 1-888-495-8501. They have up-to-date information on the latest scams and how to report them.

For more information, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Heather Pearl alert last week

The City is warning residents about a phishing scam currently underway in Ottawa.   People are receiving text messages regarding unpaid parking infractions. The texts include a link to a website that looks like ottawa.ca. Staff have worked with various internet service providers to have the fraudulent site taken down. It may take up to 24 hours for the site takedown to be reflected across the internet.   The City never requests or communicates about financial information through text message. If you receive one of these text messages, do not reply to it and do not follow the link.   Those who may have fallen victim to this fraud are asked to file a report with the Ottawa Police Service’s online reporting tool.  For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Forwarded from Ottawa Police Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for July 22, 2022

Ottawa Police is using What3Words app to help locate missing persons

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is pleased to announce that its Communications Centre is using the What3Words app to help in locating missing persons. 

Continue reading “Ottawa Police encourages downloading What3Words app” →

SPRING CLEANING?  THIEVES HELP CHAMPLAIN PARK RESIDENTS GET RID OF WANTED ITEMS!!

Summer weather is here and it gives us the chance to get back into the great outdoors. Warm weather also brings folks with fiendish intent to our community.  In the last month, there have been reports of stolen bicycles (locked up and out of sight) on Northwestern Ave., graffiti and gang tags popping up, inappropriate activities near Pontiac/Patricia Ave., and now a stolen car on Keyworth Ave. Thieves and unwelcome visitors are once again at work in the neighbourhood.  Often these intruders are looking for the easy mark to target!  Why not make it a challenge for them to walk off with your cherished possessions? Keep an eye out for each other and our residents and have a great summer!

TO DO LIST TO AVOID BEING TARGETED BY THIEVES:

Continue reading “SPRING CLEANING – LOCK THEM UP” →

Subject:	Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for May 6, 2022
Date:	Fri, 6 May 2022 09:55:31 -0400
From:	Darren Joseph <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

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Secure your windows to prevent injury

This week, the Ottawa Police responded to a call where a child fell from an open window and suffered injury. With the warmer weather upon us, there is a stronger likelihood that windows are open, creating a safety risk potential for children to fall out.

It is important to secure access to your windows. Here are some safety tips to keep children safe:

• Lock your window closed at all times when you cannot supervise a small child around this falling hazard
• Install window guards
• Put up window stoppers
• Move furniture away from windows (there are more accidents when furniture is near a window).
• Remove the cranks from crank-open windows to keep kids from opening them.

To make a police report:

• Contact Cst. Darren Joseph directly (west of O-Train, Line 2) at josephd@ottawapolice.ca or 613-236-1222, ext. 5871.
• Contact Cst. Stephanie Lemieux directly (east of O-Train, Line 2) at lemieuxs@ottawapolice.ca or 613-236-1222, ext. 5290

One topic item : increase in impaired related charges in March

If you’re interested in helping out, see our Neighbourhood Watch Page.

To make a police report :

• Contact Cst. Darren Joseph directly (west of O-Train, Line 2) at josephd@ottawapolice.ca or 613-236-1222, ext. 5871.
• Contact Cst. Stephanie Lemieux directly (east of O-Train, Line 2) at lemieuxs@ottawapolice.ca or 613-236-1222, ext. 5290.

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25% increase in impaired related charges in March

Impaired driving is not only criminal; it is dangerous to all of us!

Since January 2022, the Ottawa Police Service is seeing worrisome increase in impaired driving.  A total of 146 impairment-related charges have been laid between January 1^st to March 30^th, 2022. In March alone, there were 54 charges laid, as opposed to 43 in March 2021.  Nearly half of the drivers charged with impaired driving were involved in a collision. 

These numbers are worrisome for road safety for motorists and vulnerable road-users as we move into cycling season and the return of the eScooters downtown. On average, every 1.3 days, a collision happens as a result of an impaired driver. “Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can impair the ability to operate a conveyance” says Sgt Troy Froats.

Of double concern to police is an increase of inexperienced drivers being investigated for impaired driving.  Drivers with a graduated licence are not permitted to have ANY alcohol in their system. Those who do are subject to fines and 3, 7 or 30 day driving suspensions for having a blood alcohol concentration above 0.  If you are going to a party, make it a habit to plan a sober ride home.

One item:

• warning on investment scam

Continue reading “Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2022-03-24” →

HATE CRIMES UP

A hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by hate/bias or prejudice based on race, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or other similar factor. Hate Crimes create fear and mistrust which can deeply impact our community.

Today, the Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit released its 2021 annual statistics that show an increase of 43.6% for reported hate-motivated incidents. “This is a troubling trend considering not all hate-motivated incidents are reported to police,” said Ottawa Police Sgt. Ali Toghrol
Continue reading “Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2022-03-14” →