The Ontario Provincial Police issued an urgent safety warning on March 2, 2026, to residents in Mississippi Mills and across the East Region regarding a rise in scammers posing as police officers. These individuals are contacting people to demand large sums of money under the threat of arrest or legal action.
In some cases, the scammers use the names of actual officers and fabricated badge information to build trust with their targets. Information released by the Municipality of Mississippi Mills shows that some victims have been pressured into losing between $6,000 and $13,000 in these schemes.
Victims are being told to withdraw large amounts of cash and deliver it through cryptocurrency platforms or even direct cash handovers. The police remind the community that they will never ask for money, digital currency, or gift cards over the telephone.
The OPP stated that officers will never demand immediate payment or pressure anyone to act urgently over the phone. Residents who encounter these calls are encouraged to hang up and verify the caller’s identity by contacting the non-emergency police line.
