Business owners and employees are being urged to take precautions.
The Ontario Provincial Police say businesses in Eastern Ontario are being targeted by scammers posing as inspectors and demanding payment through cryptocurrency machines.
The OPP East Region say fraudsters are pretending to be fire inspectors or claiming businesses owe outstanding bills. The suspects then pressure staff to make immediate payments using cryptocurrency ATMs.
Police are urging business owners and employees to take precautions.
They advise people to always verify identification before speaking with anyone claiming to be an inspector. Staff should also check with management before making any payment and never pay money on the spot.
The OPP say any suspicious calls or in-person visits should be reported immediately.
Police are reminding businesses to stay alert and take steps to protect themselves from fraud as scams involving cryptocurrency continue to evolve across the region.
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