Waterloo Regional Police are urging students and community members to be vigilant following reports of a projector scam targeting residents throughout the region.

Between August 26 and September 18, 2026, police received five reports of individuals attempting to sell projectors at significantly discounted prices near post-secondary campuses. In these incidents, low-cost projectors were rebranded and marketed as high-end models in an effort to deceive potential buyers. 

In one incident reported on September 14, 2026, a victim contacted police after realizing they had fallen victim to the scam. The victim was walking on the University of Waterloo campus when they were approached by occupants of a dark-colour SUV. The individuals claimed they were transporting projectors for installation and needed someone to temporarily store a spare unit before it could be sold.

The suspects told the victim they would be compensated for storing the projector but required a deposit while the equipment was in the victim’s care. The suspects then drove the victim to a local bank, where the victim withdrew $5,000 in cash and provided it to them as a deposit. 

The suspects subsequently left with the money, leaving the victim with a low-value projector that had been misrepresented as a high-end product. 

The investigations remain ongoing by WRPS’ General Investigations Unit.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Waterloo Regional Police at 519-570-9777, extension 4496.

Investigators are reminding residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers that appear too good to be true and to avoid providing cash, e-transfers, or personal information to individuals they do not know.