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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 26 ,2 02 0 | 8 oakville.ca COVID-19 Public Health Emergency To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and support Public Health officials, the Town of Oakville has joined the Province of Ontario and Halton Region in declaring a State of Emergency. Facilities and parks remain closed. Only essential services are being delivered. ServiceOakville remains available at 905-845-6601 (TTY 905-338-4200) or service@oakville.ca to respond to community questions and requests for essential services. Visit oakville.ca for the most up-to-date information. Residents are also encouraged to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates. Halton Region Public Health Halton Region Public Health and health care partners continue to focus on those most at risk of COVID-19. Visit the Halton Region COVID-19 web page before calling 3-1-1 for information on symptoms, prevention and when to contact Halton Region Public Health. COVID-19 information (2019 Novel Coronavirus) Notice of cancellation of Statutory Public Meeting Monday, April 6, 2020 at 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Council Chamber Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment Town-wide and Town-initiated File No. 42.25.19 Please be advised that the meeting scheduled for this matter on Monday, April 6, 2020 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Council Chamber has been cancelled. Dated at the Town of Oakville, March 18, 2020. As many citizens are hunkering down to help prevent the spread of coro- navirus-related disease, one group has stepped up its activities: fraud artists. That's the word from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, which warned this week scams designed to take advantage of fears sur- rounding the spread of CO- VID-19 are cropping up across the country. "Fraudsters want to profit from consumers' fears, uncertainties andfears, uncertainties andf misinformation. Fraudsters are exploiting the crisis to facilitate fraud and cyber-facilitate fraud and cyber-f crime," the centre said in an alert posted to its website. The scams range from callers claiming to re- present cleaning and heat- ing companies offering special virus-resistant air filters to supposed finan- cial advisers with tips on "hot new stocks related to the disease," the centre re- ported. Some scammers are even phoning people to tell them they have tested positive for the virus, a phishing attempt to obtain health and credit card data. Police have also received reports of door-to-door canvassers offering house- hold decontamination de- vices, authorities said. The federal anti-fraud centre is warning people to be wary of unsolicited calls from people claiming to re- present government or health agencies, or who say they can offer products that provide protection from COVID-19 -- includ- ing "miracle cures" such as herbal remedies, vaccina- tions or faster testing for the virus. It's also possible people may be targeted by fraudsters claiming to re- present charities. "Don't be pressured into making a donation," the centre warned, adding, "Verify that a charity is reg- istered" before donating. There is also a risk con- sumers may encounter fake or misleading ads re- lated to COVID-19. Scams reported to the Anti-Fraud Centre in- clude: • Cleaning or heating companies offering duct cleaning services or filters to protect from COVID-19; • Local and provincial hydro/electrical power companies threatening to disconnect power for non- payment; • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organi- zation offering fake lists for sale of COVID-19 infected people in your neighbour- hood; • Public Health Agency of Canada giving false re- sults saying you have test- ed positive for COVID-19 and tricking you into con- firming your health card and credit card numbers for a prescription; • Red Cross and other known charities offering free medical products such as masks for a donation; • Government depart- ments sending out corona- virus-themed phishing emails, tricking recipients into opening malicious at- tachments, or seeking sen- sitive personal and finan- cial details; • Financial advisers pressuring people to invest in hot new stocks related to the disease or offering fi- nancial aid and/or loans to assist people during shut downs; • Door-to-door sales peo- ple selling household de- contamination services, and • Private companies of- fering fast COVID-19 tests for sale. If you have been a victim of fraud, contact your local police or file an online re- port at https://www.anti- fraudcentre-centreanti- fraude.ca/report-signalez- eng.htm. SCAM ARTISTS CAPITALIZING ON CORONAVIRUS FEARS JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com NEWS SOME SCAMMERS ARE EVEN PHONING PEOPLE TO TELL THEM THEY HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS