**** New Glasgow Police Release
Buyer Alert: New Glasgow Regional Police alerts residents about door-to door fraud
Recently in the Town of New Glasgow, residents have reported to police that they have been approached at their homes by door-to-door salespeople. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from scammers and legitimate sales, especially during the holiday period. Scams do increase during the holiday season and residents can protect themselves by being aware and by following these simple safety tips.
- In the event of any emergency call 911 immediately.
- Remember when it is too good to be true, it probably is. verify the business prior to agreeing to any transactions.
- If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t open your door. It’s not rude, it’s safe. If you’re uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to ask them to leave then lock your door. Do not let anyone in your residence that you do not know.
- Remember, you are in no way obligated to give out any personal information to anyone who comes to your door. This includes showing them bills, giving them water samples for testing, answering questions about security features in your home, etc.
- Ask to see the credentials of any door-to-door sales personnel before committing to make a purchase or entering into a contract. In Nova Scotia, individuals selling goods and services in this manner are required to carry an ID card that identifies the licensed company they represent.
- Avoid being pressured to sign anything at your door. This is a tactic to sign before you can research or even think about the transaction.
- If you felt that you have been a victim call the New Glasgow Regional Police immediately at 902-759-7277. We are here to help you.
Residents are advised to call police to report suspicious activity to the New Glasgow Regional Police at 902-752-1941 or dial 911 in the event of an emergency. Anyone with concerns or questions about this type of activity should contact Service Nova Scotia’s Consumer protection staff at 902-424-5200 or 1-800-670-4357.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can also contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or text TIP202 + your message to ‘CRIMES’ (274637) or submit tips by Secure Web Tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca. Calls to Crime Stoppers are not taped or traced and if police make an arrest and lay charges based on a tip, callers qualify for a cash award.
To learn more about frauds and scams, please visit: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca)
