Wave of seasonal fraud in Kamloops prompts RCMP warning

RCMP are issuing a warning about scammers after a series of recent fraud reports ranging from Bitcoin deposits, unauthorized transactions and fraudsters posing as legitimate business representatives were made to the police in Kamloops this month.

RCMP are warning the public to be vigilante while sharing some possible scenarios and safety tips.

“It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, fraudsters are always coming up with ways to scare people out of their money,” Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Const. Crystal Evelyn said in a media release issued, Dec. 22. “While some scams remain popular at all times of the year, others can change with the seasons.”

A recent victim was scammed when they thought they were ordering holiday products over the phone. The victim provided their personal information, credit card number and social insurance number to someone they believed was a communication service provider. 

Another victim lost $5,000 in Bitcoin after a fraudster convinced them their social insurance number had been used in a Canada Revenue Agency scam for money laundering and they had to pay to avoid court. 

A couple days later, another person was contacted by someone posing to be a police officer instructing them to deposit money into a Bitcoin machine to prevent arrest.

Other scams include credit cards taken out in someone else’s name, cheque frauds and technical support requiring payment by credit card, RCMP said.

“A real police officer or Canada Revenue Agency agent would never ask for money to be transferred to avoid arrest or on behalf of your relative,” Evelyn said. “Please, if you get a call like this, no matter what you’re told on the phone, do your own investigation and call a number you know to belong to your local detachment and real police officers or agency representatives.”

If you are a victim of fraud in which you have incurred a financial loss and/or given out your personal information call your local police to report the incident.

Record details of your interaction with the fraudster including phone numbers, email addresses and communication with the scammer. Photographs or screenshots of the online conversation are helpful.

If you have not been a victim of a fraud but have information related to scams, please report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Here are some helpful links provided by RCMP:

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Canada Revenue Agency
• Get Cyber Safe Campaign
• Canadian Bankers Association
• COVID-19 Frauds and Scams

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