ON May 15, an elderly woman in North Vancouver was contacted by someone impersonating a financial institution fraud investigator. The caller advised the elderly woman that fraudulent purchases had been noted on her chequing account and her card chips must be checked. Shortly after, a male who claimed to be from her bank attended her residence to collect her bank cards.
Unbeknownst to the elderly woman, she just handed her bank cards to a fraudster who racked up $23,000 in fraudulent charges.
The elderly woman later reported the incident to her financial institution and police in an effort to recoup some of the money lost.
Investigators have determined that the suspect(s) may be travelling throughout the Lower Mainland. Eight similar frauds with the same modus operandi have been reported and they are currently in North Vancouver committing these frauds. The investigations are active and ongoing.
“We continue to repeat our warnings, but we don’t mind being a broken record. We need would-be targets to know how to recognize these scams,” said Cpl. Mansoor Sahak of North Vancouver RCMP. “We also need friends, family, neighbours, anyone who interacts with the elderly or those who are new to Canada to tell them about these scams, how to recognize them, and what to do if they are contacted by a scammer.”
Anyone can be a target and some of the fraudsters are extremely convincing, said Sahak.
Here are some additional guidelines to follow to help prevent being victimized:
- Don’t be afraid to say no
- Do your research
Nevergive out personal information such as:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your birthdate
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Your credit card or banking information
Remember: if you didn’t initiate the call, you don’t know who you’re talking to.
For more information about scams and how to protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre website.
If you have been a victim of a scam, contact your local police or call 9-1-1. To report a scam where you have not been victimized, whether you were contacted by phone, email or otherwise, report it to the Canadian Anti Fraud website online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.
