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FROM/DE: Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment DATE: November 7, 2024

Lifejacket Along with Being In the Right Place, Right Time SAVES A LIFE on Georgian Bay

(MIDLAND, On) - Wearing your lifejacket and the luck of someone being in the right place at the right time made the difference for a 66 year old Mono Township male today.
A leisurely boat ride on a sunny fall day on Georgian Bay turned ugly sometime prior to 11:30 a.m. November 7, 2024 when the lone occupant of a small pleasure craft went overboard alone into the chilly waters of Sturgeon Bay just north of the Town of Waubaushene, Tay Township.

The male then inflated his lifejacket and tread water/swam for well over an hour until he was able to pull himself onto a rock shoal and out of the 10.5 degrees Celsius water.
Near 11:30 a.m. a retired OPP officer and his spouse who reside at a nearby residence overlooking the water, glanced out over the bay prior to sitting down preparing to watch a noon hour TV show and noticed an unusual object with a speck of yellow colour on one of the many rock shoals that protrude out of the water approximately 400 meters off shore.
Concerned, they called the OPP Communication Centre and reported their observations which resulted in a quick response by an officer to their location who confirmed their observations to a OPP Marine Unit heading from the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment.

At approximately 2:00 p.m. two OPP marine unit members aboard the OPP vessel Thomas P. Coffin where able quickly locate and bring the male aboard who was suffering from obvious signs of hypothermia. Officers transported the male to awaiting Simcoe County Paramedics who triaged and transported the male to an area hospital for treatment where he remains receiving medical treatment.
Officers credit the survival of male to the fact of wearing a colourful lifejacket which was inflated shortly after going overboard and the good fortune of being spotted by the callers on shore.

The Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment maintains a marine unit late into the Fall season which is ready to respond to these types of incidents especially on a day like today with the water temperature being reported at 10.5 degrees Celsius.

For interactive boating information with equipment requirements at your fingertips we suggest viewing the following marine safety information site - Better Boater - Become a Better Boater Today and always remember to put that life jacket on before heading out for an enjoyable day on the bay.

A Halloween Night Safety Message From The Staff of The Southern Georgian Bay OPP

Lets all have good memories of #halloween2024 and with witches, ghosts and goblins on the streets tonight, drivers please focus on the road tonight and #pleaseputdownthephone & #NeverDriveImpaired. A safety message from the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment and our road safety partner The Safe and Sober Awareness Committee of North Simcoe

FROM: Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment DATE: October 26, 2024

OPP and CAFC Partner with Bulletin on Social Media Business Accounts During Cyber Security Awareness Month

(MIDLAND,ON)- Members of the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) are continuing to raise the awareness for North Simcoe residents of the various scams that they may encounter on the telephone or online.

Cyber Security Awareness Month is designed to help Canadian stay secure online by sharing simple, effective steps to protect yourself and your devices.

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, please find the following bulletin prepared by the CAFC regarding prevalent cyber threats that could target your businesses such as Social Media Business Account Spoofs, Spear Phishing Frauds and Payment Redirection as well as ransomware attacks.

Please share this bulletin and social media posts to help spread awareness!

This Cyber Month get involved

•Follow @GetCyberSafe and visit their website: www.getcybersafe.gc.ca

•Follow us @Canantifraud on Twitter and Facebook and visit our website: http://www.antifraudcentre.ca

•Use the hashtags #CyberMonth2024 #GetCyberSafe #CyberSecurity and #Cyber

•Learn more about the new cybercrime and fraud reporting system that the CAFC is developing in partnership with the National Cybercrime Coordination Unit (NC3) https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/nc3

Conclusion

No matter your level of cyber fitness, fraudsters will stop at nothing to steal from their victims. Your best protection against cyber threats is to learn more about them and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself.

To learn more about common tactics used by cyber criminals, explore the Fraudster's toolbox infographic

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If not a victim, report it to the CAFC anyway.

Bulletin

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the CAFC is dedicated to helping protect your business and stay one step ahead of emerging frauds. From social media spoofing, business email compromise, payment redirection to ransomware, the threats are real and evolving. It's more important than ever to be aware, stay vigilant and protect your business against these growing risks.

Social Media Business Account Spoofs:

Business social media accounts are increasingly being spoofed by fraudsters. With the cloned or imposter accounts, fraudsters can target existing contacts and followers' clients and employees with fraudulent messages and offers. For instance, they can send messages to existing contacts and followers (identified on the legitimate company's profile) and make claims that they have won a free giveaway or contest. In order to collect their winnings, potential victims are required to provide their credit card information.

Top Tips to Protect Business

• Secure your social media accounts. Understand the terms of service for the social media platforms being used.
• Get “verified" on social media. “Verified" accounts provide a level of authenticity and credibility.
• Routinely monitor your social media accounts for unusual post and messages.
• Think about the information you share. Can it be used to create imposter accounts or solicit your clients and employees with fraudulent requests or offers?
• Routinely search social media platforms for imposter accounts.
• Provide clear instructions or details on any promotions, contests or giveaways.
• Provide fraud awareness messaging to clients and employees.
• Post warnings if, and when, spoof accounts are identified and report them to the platform.
• Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself.

Spear Phishing Fraud and Payment Redirections:

In these frauds, perpetrators take their time to collect information on their intended targets so they can send convincing emails from a seemingly trusted source. Fraudsters will infiltrate or spoof a business or individual's email account and create a rule to send copies of incoming emails to one of their own accounts. They will comb through the emails to: study the sender's use of language and to look for patterns linked to important contacts, payments, and dates.
Fraudsters launch their attack when the owner of the email account can't be easily contacted by email or by phone. It may look like a top executive sending an email to their accounts payable department requesting an urgent payment to close a private deal or it may look like an email from existing contractor providing new payment directions and requesting payment of an invoice.


Top Tips to Protect Business

• Remain current on frauds targeting businesses and educate all employees
• Include fraud training as part of new employee onboarding
• Put in place detailed payment procedures including verbal authentication for any urgent requests or changes in payment details
• Encourage a verification step for unusual requests
• Establish fraud identifying, managing and reporting procedures
• Avoid opening unsolicited emails or clicking on suspicious links or attachments
• Take a few seconds to hover over an email address or link and confirm that they are correct
• Restrict the amount of information shared publicly
• Upgrade and update technical security software
• Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself

Ransomware:

Most ransomware incidents start with a email phishing or spear phishing attack. The email will contain an attachment which can be an executable file, an archive or an image or a link. Once the attachment is opened or the link is clicked, the malware is then released onto the user's system. The malware can remain dormant for many days or months before files or systems are encrypted or locked. Other ways networks and devices can be affected are:
• Visiting unsafe, suspicious or compromised websites;
• Inserting an infected external device (USB drive) into a device;
• Exposing the systems to the internet unnecessarily or without robust security and maintenance measures.
Top Tips to Protect Business
• Be cautious of any unsolicited email;
• Do not respond to suspicious emails and do not click on any links in them;
• Ensure a backup plan for your data that is consistent and frequent;
• Use multi-factor authentication and anti-malware software;
• Ensure regular software and system updates/patches as well as frequent system-wide password changes;
• Publish and enforce an employee security policy;
• Work with law enforcement when developing and testing an incident response plan;
• Report, report, report!
• Visit the CAFC for more tips and tricks for protecting yourself;
• Visit the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security for additional information on ransomware and cyber security advice, guidance and services.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If you are not a victim, it is still important to report the incident to the CAFC as reporting can prevent further harm.

CAFC Team

partners@antifraudcentre.ca

Fraud: Recognize. Reject. Report.

#kNOwFraud

Follow us on Twitter (@canantifraud) and Facebook (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)

FROM/DE: Southern Georgian Bay Detachment DATE: October 20, 2024

OPP Investigators Seeking Assistance with Theft Investigation at Midland Motel

(MIDLAND,ON)- Investigators from the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment are seeking assistance from the public after the OPP Communication Centre received a complaint of a theft of motel property that occurred on October 19, 2024, at approximately 1:43 a.m.

A staff member was distracted when an unknown individual removed a large set of keys belonging to the Quality Inn on King Street, Midland. Investigators are being assisted video surveillance at the inn and the community is asked to have a look at the attached photographs (3) to see if the suspect can be identified and hopefully lead to the return of the stolen property.

If a community member has information about this crime, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, opp.southern.georgian.bay@opp.ca or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit your anonymous information online at https://ontariocrimestoppers.ca/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip. You can follow Crime Stoppers of Simcoe Dufferin Muskoka www.crimestopperssdm.com on X or Facebook.

Reference Occurrence # E24140125

Social media fraud
With more people than ever communicating and socializing online, the CAFC wants to help keep you safe from fraud on social media as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. From having your account compromised to falling for an investment fraud, these scams can be costly if you're not vigilant.

Common Social Media Scams
Account compromise frauds
Have you received an offer from friend for a good deal on Taylor Swift concert tickets or requests for assistance from a family member that lost their phone or have you responded to immigration offers promoted by Canadian members of parliament?

Beware, fraudsters are increasingly compromising profiles on social platforms like Facebook. These accounts are then used to promote frauds including merchandise scams, emergency scams and even immigration scams.

Investment Scams
There are two very prominent online investment frauds to be aware of:

In celebrity endorsed investment frauds, perpetrators create and post fake news articles using deepfake videos of well-known high-profile figures to lure victims into crypto currency investing
In relationship investment frauds, perpetrators will contact you via online dating sites, social media platforms and even by text messages attempting to start a relationship and build trust with you. They typically claim to be successful cryptocurrency investors and persuade you to invest with the promise of high returns
Sextortion
Fraudsters are creating fake profiles on social media, pornographic and dating websites. They use these to lure you into a relationship and coerce you into performing sexual acts on camera. Sextortion, or online sexual exploitation, is blackmail. It occurs when someone threatens to send an existing (or fabricated) sexual image or video of you to other people if you do not pay them or provide more sexual content. It can also occur when someone is encouraged to participate in or observe online situations of a sexual nature. These encounters can be recorded or captured without the victim's knowledge. The fraudster then threatens to send the recorded material to friends, family members, or work colleagues if money or additional images are not sent.

Warning signs for all variations
Someone you haven't met in person professes their love to you
Unsolicited text messages from people you don't know
A suspect that tries to move communication to a more private or different method of communication (Whatsapp, Signal or Discord, etc.)
Any attempts to meet in person get cancelled or there's always an excuse to not meet up
A suspect acting distressed or angry to force you into sending more money
Friend requests from people you don't know or profiles that seem too perfect
Requests for remote access to your device in order to “teach" you how to invest
Investment opportunities with higher than normal returns
Requests to transfer your crypto investment to an alternate crypto address
Investment Ads using high profile individuals promising a high return on your investment
How to protect yourself from all variations
Don't accept friend requests from people you do not know
Be careful who you share images with. Suspects will often use explicit pictures to extort victims into sending money
Lean more tips on how to protect yourself from Sextortion
Never send money to someone you haven't met
Don't give out your personal information (name, address, DOB, SIN, banking credentials)
Never scan a QR code provided by an unknown source. It could contain a virus and infect your device
Don't allow remote access to your device (Anydesk, Teamviewer, etc.)
Be careful when sending cryptocurrency; once the transaction is completed, it is unlikely to be reversed
Verify if the investment companies are registered with the National Registration Search Tool
Beware of fraudsters asking you to open and fund new crypto accounts. They will direct you to send it to addresses they control. Don't!
Beware of offers promising high returns on investments. If it's too good to be true, it most likely is!
Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself
If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or report online.