RICHMOND RCMP on Friday issued a public warning regarding fraudsters posing as Chinese police or government officials.

Between March 1 and April 8, Richmond RCMP received seven reports involving fraudsters allegedly posing as police officers and demanding money. The total reported loss is over $1.1 million. In three instances no money was sent.

“These fraudsters can be very convincing. They employ various tactics to trick people including spoofing legitimate phone numbers, or making threats of police action if payment is not made. Ultimately, they have one objective, to get your money,” says Sgt. Dave Au, Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit.

“These types of scams continue to surface in our community and unfortunately people continue to fall prey to these fraudsters,” says Cpl. Adriana O’Malley, Richmond RCMP Media Relations Officer. “These frauds can have a devastating financial and emotional impact on the victims which is why we continue to issue these public warnings in the hope of preventing further victimization.”

Richmond RCMP say they want to remind the public that if someone claiming to be from a government agency asks for Bitcoin, Google Play or iTunes gift cards as a method of payment, hang up immediately and report it to police.

There are a number of frauds and scams that utilize similar tactics, including the romance scam which has led to significant financial losses for Richmond residents. Richmond RCMP advise ongoing discussion with loved ones about these scams in order to promote greater awareness.

Richmond RCMP recommend you regularly check the Canada Anti-Fraud website to learn more about the latest scams and frauds affecting our community. They also encourage anyone who has been the victim of a suspected fraud to report it to the police of jurisdiction.