Port Moody police are warning residents to be wary of suspicious telephone calls after one Port Moody resident lost about $50,000 in savings through a bank scam.
On Wednesday, May 15, the female victim reported to police that it all began when a man had called her saying he represented the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). The man claimed someone had used the woman’s Visa card to make several fraudulent purchases. To sort things out with the bank, he said she needed to make several money transfers.
After that, another man, this time posing as an RCMP officer, told the victim to transfer several lines of credit and buy Google Play cards to help track down the suspect and recover her money.
A real police officer would never make these kinds of requests.
"No police department (nor police officer) will ever call you demanding immediate electronic payment to clear an arrest warrant, or require you to electronically send them funds to assist in an investigation,” wrote Cst. Jason Maschke in a press release.
Unfortunately, scams like this are hardly isolated.
Scammers are often looking for moments when people are most vulnerable. And while tax season is an especially attractive time for people looking to con you out of your money, even the death of a loved one can paint a target on your back.
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, police recommend you report the incident through their non-emergency line: 604-461-3456 in Port Moody, and 604-945-1550 in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.
