SIXTEEN charges have been approved against a 26-year-old man after a bank card fraud series investigation led by Burnaby RMCP’s Prolific Offender Suppression Team (POST).
On February 29, 2024, Burnaby RCMP warned the public of a bank card scam which had victimized two seniors in Burnaby. In each instance, the victim received a call from someone advising they were from a bank and stating that the victim’s bank cards were compromised. The suspect then stated they would be sending bank staff to their residence to pick the cards up and investigate. Almost immediately, a suspect attended each residence in-person.
Linking this scam to several other reports, Burnaby RCMP’s POST assumed conduct of the investigation.
As a result of this investigation, on January 2, 2025, the BC Prosecution Service approved 16 fraud-related charges against 26-year-old Yeral Jauvin Varona.
Varona now faces the following charges:
- 6 counts of identity theft
- 6 counts of fraud under $5,000
- 1 count of fraud over $5,000
- 2 counts of identity fraud
- 1 count of disguise face with intent
He has strict court-imposed conditions.
“While we’ve moved this investigation to the court system, it is important to note that this type of scam is still occurring in the Lower Mainland,” said Cpl Mike Kalanj with Burnaby RCMP. “We are asking the public to share this information in an effort to reduce the likelihood of more people becoming victims of fraud.”
Last week, Richmond RCMP issued a public alert, as this same scam is occurring in their jurisdiction.