The Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning residents about a fraud reported in the Town of Paris in which scammers posing as investigators convinced a victim to hand over bank cards and personal information.
Police say the incident was reported on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, after a resident received a phone call from a woman identifying herself as “Lucy Collines” from “Ontario Fraud Investigations.” The caller used the phone number 226-780-1493 and provided what police say were fake badge and file numbers.
According to investigators, the caller told the victim that her bank accounts had been compromised and instructed her to provide the PIN numbers for her debit and credit cards.
The caller then arranged for a man identifying himself as “Carl Oliver” to attend the victim’s home to collect the cards.
Police say the man who attended the residence was described as approximately five-foot-eight, obese, of Southeast Asian descent, wearing black pants, a black hoodie, and a blue surgical mask. He reportedly showed a photo identification card labeled “Fraud Investigator.”
Shortly after the cards were handed over, a large amount of money was withdrawn from the victim’s account in the Caledon region, police said.
The OPP emphasized that the incident is a scam, noting that police services, financial institutions, and government agencies will never request PIN numbers, ask individuals to hand over bank cards, or send someone to a residence to collect them.
Residents are urged to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls related to financial matters. Police advise anyone who receives a similar call to hang up immediately and contact their financial institution directly using the number listed on the back of their bank card.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the investigation to contact the Brant County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppersbb.com.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing.
