Guelph Man Loses $20,000 to Fake Lotto 6/49 Win Scam, Police Warn

A Guelph man lost approximately $20,000 after a caller told him he had won a lottery prize, the Guelph Police Service said in a media release on November 3, 2026. Police are using the case to remind residents to be very cautious with people they do not know.

How the scam worked

According to police, the man was contacted by phone and told he had won the $850,000 second prize in Lotto 6/49. The caller said he had to pay taxes, insurance and a "police escort fee" to have the winning cheque delivered.

He was told to load money onto pre-paid credit cards and hand over the card numbers. Police said he lost about $20,000 before realizing it was a scam. He recently reported the fraud to police (occurrence number GU26074617).

Police urge residents to be wary of any phone call, email or text that demands immediate action, and to contact the supposed sender independently to confirm the message is legitimate before acting.

Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Police said contacts can be reported to the centre even when no money was lost.

Police seek two people after bus stop altercation

Police are also trying to identify a man and a woman involved in a physical altercation at a bus stop near Paisley Road and Edinburgh Road North just after 11 p.m. Monday, in order to check on their wellbeing. Officers arrived shortly after a resident's call but could not find them. Police described them as a tall man with "bushy" hair and a shorter woman with long dark hair and dark clothing.

Anyone with information, or who was in the area at the time, is asked to call Sergeant Kevin Ketteringham at 519-824-1212, ext. 7513, or email [email protected] (occurrence number GU26075788).

Man charged with threatening officer

A 36-year-old Guelph man arrested Monday in Hamilton on two outstanding warrants by the Ontario Provincial Police Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Unit is also accused of threatening to shoot a Guelph police officer. Police allege he repeatedly threatened one of the arresting officers after being brought to the Guelph police station. He is charged with six counts of breaching probation orders and two counts of uttering death threats, and was held for a bail hearing Tuesday (occurrence number GU26075637).

Guelph's Crime Severity Index was 57.82 in 2025, up 2.05% from the previous year, and its Violent Crime Severity Index was 74.99, according to Statistics Canada.