Haliburton Highlands OPP say no matter how technologically savvy you think you are, criminals always seem to be one step ahead. That’s why protecting yourself online and over the phone is even more critical as a new series of online and telephone scams are being carried out in Haliburton County and across Canada.

Here’s how it works — fraudsters contact unsuspecting individuals, using OPP and RCMP non-emergency phone numbers to legitimize their criminal activities. Victims are misled into believing they must help catch a dishonest bank employee or resolve suspicious transactions by providing personal information or transferring funds.

While Artificial Intelligence or AI is making it harder to decipher scam attempts, it’s your own common sense and gut instincts that are your strongest weapons against fraudsters.