News

Fraud/Scam Public Advisory

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The Winnipeg Police Service continues to receive reports of a targeted scam that is believed to be targeting local phone numbers.

A scammer will call a victim purporting to be a criminal investigator, and that money is owed to the Canada Revenue Agency.

During some calls, the victim is then told to dial the Winnipeg Police Service non-emergency line at 204-986-6222 (while the line is still open) to confirm that an investigation is underway. The victim believes they have started a new call, but in reality, the scammer has remained on the line.

At other times, the scammer may use Caller ID spoofing to contact the victim from what fraudulently appears to be the Winnipeg Police Service non-emergency line at 204-986-6222.

The scammer then pretends to be a police officer and attempts to convince the victim to transfer a significant amount of money. Below are some tips that can be used to help avoid these scams:

Be cautious of any unexpected callers, such as a bank. Take reasonable steps to confirm the
identities of people who call.

The Canada Revenue Agency will never demand immediate payment by Interac E-transfer, Bitcoin, prepaid credit cards, or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon or others.

They will also never use aggressive language or threaten you with sending the Police to have you arrested.
Do not assume phone numbers appearing on call display screens are accurate.

The Winnipeg Police Service encourages family members or friends to have discussions with their older loved ones to ensure they are not being targeted in this type of scam or any other scam.

Remember, you can stop phone fraud—immediately hang up, screen your incoming calls and/or by blocking numbers.

More information on frauds can be found at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

Why Buy When You Can Borrow?

hermanprior

Below is an article explaining why we are starting this. This was presented at our information day in February.

At The Library Of Things, You Can Borrow Almost Anything

Owning things you barely need could soon be a thing of the past

 REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Tags:

Library Of Things, Sustainability, Sharing

At the Sharing Depot in Toronto, Canada, you can borrow thousands of items.

At the Sharing Depot in Toronto, Canada, you can borrow thousands of items.

Imagine there was a place, where, instead of buying something you need to use only a few times, you could just go and borrow it. That is the idea behind The Library of Things. This growing community of communal spaces gives people access to wide variety of everyday items, ranging from board games, party supplies, DIY tools, gardening things, kitchenware, camping kit and events equipment, garden tools, clothing and tents – without needing to purchase.

The concept was born out of the idea that there is no need for people to own all the items they may need, often times only once every few months. Now, instead of wasting money and space, they can access them through the library of things.

Specialty libraries, such as the tool library movement or toy lending libraries have been around for a long time, and led the way for the growing Library of Things movement. And the great success of the idea has proven it right. Many community-based Library of Things locations give out well over 1,000 items per week, while some also offer classes on how to use the items they offer.

While the first of libraries originated in the United States, others have sprung up in Canada, The Netherlands, England, and Germany.

“The most successful Libraries of Things are the ones do more than just lend items,” Gene Homicki, co-founder and CEO of myTurn told Shareable. “They also create a strong sense of community. For example, some offer sliding scale subscriptions based on income or usage to help ensure a diverse community can afford to access the library.”

“We’re helping build a future in which anywhere you live, anywhere you work,” he says, “and anywhere you travel, you’ll be able to access what you want and need at a Library of Things in our network.”