Peterborough County OPP – Use Caution When Selling Online
Members of the Peterborough County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) want to warn community members of a recent call regarding a theft of snowmobiles that were being sold online.
On January 7, 2025, the Peterborough County OPP received a call from a community member who reported a theft of two snowmobiles and the trailer they were stored in. The complainant advised that they believed the theft was a result of advertising the items for sale on an online platform. The complainant had listed the snowmobiles and trailer for sale for $50,000 and had been in communication with a potential buyer who had agreed upon a price subject to viewing them. The buyer, who stated they were travelling from Ottawa, made arrangements to come to the residence and inspect the items. After their meeting, the buyer handed a bank draft to the seller in the agreed upon amount. The seller stated that the bank draft would be deposited and once it had cleared and been deposited in their account, the buyer would then be able to remove the trailer and snowmobiles.
The caller, who had been away from the property for a few days, returned to find the trailer missing. A neighbour advised that a truck had arrived at their residence the day after they left and believed it was the buyer retrieving them but did not see the actual driver. The caller contacted their bank and were told that the cheque they had been provided was indeed fake.
When selling items online, make sure you know who you are dealing with prior to supplying your address. It’s always best to meet in dayli ght hours when possible and ensure that you get a description of the person and their vehicle, including the licence plate number. When selling valuable items, make sure they are left in a safe place and locked up until you have confirmed payment.
If you have a group wanting more information on how to protect themselves, contact your local police agency and see if a presentation can be arranged.
For more information on other common scams in Canada, check out the Competition Bureau Canada’s The Little Black Book of Scams: https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04333.html
For additional information on ongoing scams in Canada and to report fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or
https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact police.
To serve our province by protecting its citizens, upholding the law, and preserving public safety.
Peterborough County OPP values your contribution to building safe communities. If you have information about suspected unlawful activity, please visit Crime Stoppers at: stopcrimehere.ca or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love