Torontonians are alerting others about a potential distraction theft scam allegedly taking place in different parts of the GTA.
In a Reddit post on Sunday, a local resident alerted women in the GTA about a potential new scam.
According to her, she was near the Royal Ontario Museum in downtown Toronto when a couple in a car approached her asking for directions to the nearest Walmart.
After helping the woman find directions on her phone, she was stepping away from the car when they extended their hands for a handshake. But after she took the man’s hand, he allegedly proceeded to pull her into the car, which she was quickly able to break free from.
It was not clear to her what their intention was, but she said that she was wearing a gold chain, and suggested that it might have been a theft attempt. The couple then fled the scene.
Responding to her comments, other residents around the GTA started sharing their own similar experiences, with many alerting locals, especially women, to stay vigilant to this potential new scam.
“It’s a common setup for a variety of scams, frauds, thefts, and so on. It exists all over the world. I hate that these criminals make you hesitate to help a stranger,” one user said.
“Had something like this happen to me at an LA Fitness in Scarborough last month,” another user shared.
“This happens in sauga too. I posted about this a few months ago. Be very careful out there,” a different user also chimed in.
Toronto Police Services said that its Financial Crimes Unit has not gotten any reports of similar incidents recently, but shared some tips to help residents avoid distraction thefts.
Here’s what police recommend:
- Be aware of your surroundings and clock any people or vehicles that may seem suspicious;
- Conceal jewellery under clothing or ensure it can’t easily be removed;
- Maintain a safe distance from vehicles when giving directions;
- Be wary of strangers who do not respect your personal space or touch you in any way;
- Do not hand over your personal belongings to them (i.e. Don’t give them your cell phone if they are asking for directions);
- If you feel unsafe, call police;
- Try to remember details of suspects and vehicles so you can describe them to the police.
Locals who witness suspicious or criminal activity can also tip the police anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers Toronto at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or toll free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
