Latest news with #PortHope
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
New video shows black bear roaming grounds near Port Hope car dealership
A bear is seen roaming in Port Hope in this image taken from a video provided to CTV News Toronto. (Port Hope Hyundai) New video has surfaced showing a bear that has been repeatedly spotted roaming Port Hope, prompting a warning from police earlier this week. The footage, taken on Wednesday and provided to CTV News Toronto, shows the bear casually walking through a grassy area near a Hyundai dealership in the vicinity of Hwy. 401 and Hwy. 28. Port Hope Hyundai General Manager Wes Carreiero tells CTV News Toronto that the bear has been in the area for a week or so but is 'definitely smart enough to see the people and go the other way.' Carreiro says that staff at the dealership have nicknamed the bear 'Kona' after a particular type of SUV sold at the dealership. Port Hope police said earlier this week that while there have been multiple sightings of the bear within the municipality, there have not been any reports of aggressive behaviour. Nonetheless, police are warning community members 'to take precautions and remain aware of their surroundings.' 'If you see a bear in the area, do not approach it. Contact Port Hope Police or the Ministry of Natural Resources Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327,' a public safety advisory issued earlier this week states. Police say residents should never run from a bear should they encounter one as it 'may trigger a chase response.' Instead, police say that residents should 'remain calm, back away slowly, and give the bear space to leave.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
‘They knew my address, my full name': 3 Ontario women lose over $60K to bank phone call scam
Criminals are once again impersonating bank employees claiming to investigate wrongdoing to try and clean out your bank account. It's a scam that's been around for many years. A 'spoofed' phone call that appears to come from your bank says your money is in danger and needs to be moved. Three Ontario women are speaking out after falling victim to this scam, losing over $67,500 between them as a result. 'They knew my address, they knew my full name, my date of birth, they knew my email and obviously my phone number,' Petra Shim of Port Hope told CTV News. Shim says she got a phone call from someone claiming to be with her bank. She was told her accounts were in jeopardy and she would have to act fast. Shim cooperated and within ten hours, she says $45,000 was emptied out of her accounts. '(My bank) told me they will not be reimbursing me because I approved the transactions,' said Shim. Similarly, Kristen Ernest of London said she received a phone call from someone claiming to be with the fraud department at her bank. She says she was told the money from her account was being used for drug trafficking and money laundering. '(The man on the phone) said any bank accounts you have are at risk,' Ernest told CTV News. 'He said I needed to follow his instructions to secure the funds.' She complied and was scammed out of $13,500. 'It was very upsetting to know that all the money I had in the bank is gone,' said Ernest. The same thing happened to Raquel Pineda of Toronto. 'The scammer told me we have to deal with this to fix the problem,' she told CTV News. Pineda said she received a call from someone impersonating a bank employee. After following their instructions, she lost $9,000. '$9,000 is a lot of money for me because I am only a cleaning lady here in Toronto.' A fourth victim reached out to CTV News but did not want to be identified because she actually works for a bank. She says she was scammed out of $50,000. How to protect yourself from phone scams According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), criminals are spoofing phone numbers so it appears as if your bank is calling. 'The victim really thinks they're helping with the inside job and with what the suspect claims,' said Jeff Horncastle with the CAFC. To avoid this scam, the CAFC recommends never sharing banking information like usernames, passcodes or account numbers. They say banks will also never ask you to participate in undercover operations, ask you to lie, keep a secret, or investigate bank employees. All three victims CTV spoke to say banks must do more to prevent fraud. 'I think there needs to be more accountability from these big banks. You know, the top five,' said Shim.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
‘They knew my address, my full name': 3 Ontario women lose over $60K to bank phone call scam
Criminals are once again impersonating bank employees claiming to investigate wrongdoing to try and clean out your bank account. It's a scam that's been around for many years. A 'spoofed' phone call that appears to come from your bank says your money is in danger and needs to be moved. Three Ontario women are speaking out after falling victim to this scam, losing over $67,500 between them as a result. 'They knew my address, they knew my full name, my date of birth, they knew my email and obviously my phone number,' Petra Shim of Port Hope told CTV News. Shim says she got a phone call from someone claiming to be with her bank. She was told her accounts were in jeopardy and she would have to act fast. Shim cooperated and within ten hours, she says $45,000 was emptied out of her accounts. '(My bank) told me they will not be reimbursing me because I approved the transactions,' said Shim. Similarly, Kristen Ernest of London said she received a phone call from someone claiming to be with the fraud department at her bank. She says she was told the money from her account was being used for drug trafficking and money laundering. '(The man on the phone) said any bank accounts you have are at risk,' Ernest told CTV News. 'He said I needed to follow his instructions to secure the funds.' She complied and was scammed out of $13,500. 'It was very upsetting to know that all the money I had in the bank is gone,' said Ernest. The same thing happened to Raquel Pineda of Toronto. 'The scammer told me we have to deal with this to fix the problem,' she told CTV News. Pineda said she received a call from someone impersonating a bank employee. After following their instructions, she lost $9,000. '$9,000 is a lot of money for me because I am only a cleaning lady here in Toronto.' A fourth victim reached out to CTV News but did not want to be identified because she actually works for a bank. She says she was scammed out of $50,000. How to protect yourself from phone scams According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), criminals are spoofing phone numbers so it appears as if your bank is calling. 'The victim really thinks they're helping with the inside job and with what the suspect claims,' said Jeff Horncastle with the CAFC. To avoid this scam, the CAFC recommends never sharing banking information like usernames, passcodes or account numbers. They say banks will also never ask you to participate in undercover operations, ask you to lie, keep a secret, or investigate bank employees. All three victims CTV spoke to say banks must do more to prevent fraud. 'I think there needs to be more accountability from these big banks. You know, the top five,' said Shim.
CBC
07-05-2025
- CBC
Port Hope teacher accused of sex crimes on students in talks to plead guilty
A Grade 8 teacher accused of multiple sexual offences involving students may plead guilty before the case ever goes to trial, an Ontario court has heard. Kelly-Anne Jennings, who is on unpaid leave from her job at St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School in Port Hope, Ont., faces 18 sex crime charges, including sexual assault on a boy under 14. Jennings, 40, is accused of both making child pornography and distributing sexually explicit material to a minor, according to court records. All offences are alleged to have occurred between June 2022 and April 2024 in Port Hope, part of Northumberland County, east of Toronto. At a brief hearing Wednesday morning in nearby Cobourg, a paralegal representing Jennings' lawyer, Dean Embry, told court the defence team and Crown prosecutors are in talks for the accused to enter a guilty plea. It's not clear whether Jennings plans to plead guilty to all — or only some — of the charges, including luring, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching. The accused did not appear in court Wednesday and her lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Four minors — whose identities are covered by a publication ban — are named in court records as alleged victims. Police said the accused communicated with the complainants over social media platforms including Snapchat. Jennings was first charged last August after investigators said a male student told his mother about inappropriate physical contact with a teacher on a class trip. Police later said three more complainants had come forward, which led to further charges. Stephen O'Sullivan, director of education at the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, previously told CBC that Jennings had been employed at St. Anthony since 2016. After her initial arrest, she was put on administrative leave and prohibited from visiting board properties or interacting with students, O'Sullivan said. "There has been no change in her status," school board spokesperson Galen Eagle said Wednesday. "She will remain on unpaid leave for the duration of the court process." A representative for the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg said she was unable to confirm when the case would return to court.
