Advertisement

Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority warns of scam disguised as GoFundMe campaign

According to the local conservation authority, the scam is disguised as a GoFundMe campaign, with a photo of a boy in a hospital. Jonathan Hayward / The Canadian Press

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority is warning area residents about a scam that’s using the organization’s name, slogan and logo.

According to the authority, the scam is disguised as a GoFundMe campaign, with a photo of a boy in a hospital. The photo is accompanied by text that describes the boy’s “serious illness,” saying that a large sum of money is required to help with his recovery.

When clicking on the link to donate, the local conservation authority says, a PayPal payment platform appears.

“We are asking members of the public to not click, respond or donate when seeing this email,” Sheryl Flannagan, the local conservation authority’s corporate services director, said in a statement.

Story continues below advertisement

“Our staff are working hard to rectify the situation and to find the source of the scam.”

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Flannagan said the conservation authority’s data is secure and that the issue is a matter of misusing the organization’s name, slogan and logo.

“We invite anyone who has questions or concerns to contact us,” Flannagan said in the statement.

Click to play video: '‘I went to bed a slave, woke up a free man’: Barrie human trafficking victim'
‘I went to bed a slave, woke up a free man’: Barrie human trafficking victim

Sponsored content

AdChoices