ON October 24 at approximately 1:30 p.m., New Westminster Police officers were dispatched to the 1900-block of Edinburgh Street after a report of a fraud in progress.

A resident in his seventies had received a call from someone pretending to be his daughter. The caller claimed she had been in a car accident and required $6,735 for legal assistance. The victim then received an additional phone call from someone claiming to be his daughter’s lawyer.

Believing the story to be true, he handed cash to a stranger who met him at his home. It was then that the victim realized he may be the victim of a scam and called police. While officers were speaking with the victim, the same caller phoned again, asking for an additional $8,000 to help with his daughter’s legal trouble.

Officers remained on scene with the victim and set up resources to identify the suspect if they returned. A short time later, at approximately 4 p.m., officers observed a man matching the suspect description provided by the victim. He was safely taken into custody and arrested for fraud over $5,000.

Investigators have since learned that the man may be linked to other frauds throughout the Lower Mainland. The stolen funds were recovered and returned to the victim.

“This was an excellent example of officers acting quickly to protect a vulnerable member of our community,” said Hailey Finnigan, Communications Officer. “These scams are designed to prey on emotions and urgency. This officer was able to intervene and ensure the victim’s money was returned.”

The New Westminster Police Department reminds residents to be cautious of any unsolicited phone calls requesting money. If you receive a call like this, hang up and reach out to a family member who can help you verify the facts.