The Coquitlam RCMP has released a list of the most common scams their economic crime section encountered in 2018.
Coming in at No. 1 is the Canada Revenue Agency scam, which Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said usually involves an offshore caller claiming that taxes are owing and must be paid immediately in Bitcoin or gift cards.
"Victims are decreasing overall, thanks to awareness, but the scammers are still calling and texting potential victims at a steady rate," said Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.
Another scam involving overseas calls is what police refer to as the Chinese arrest scam. In these instances, a victim receives a call usually in Mandarin or Cantonese and are told there is a warrant for their arrest in China.
Closer to home, identity theft is still common and McLaughlin said residents should be careful about where they leave their personal information and documents.
"Many people are getting wallets and purses stolen from vehicles that are usually unlocked and then bank cards are used at convenience stores [and] gas stations," he said, later adding: "We try hard to educate people to lock their vehicles and houses, but complacency is the double-edged sward of living in a safe community."
When it comes to identity theft, he added that the Coquitlam RCMP generally have a good chance of prosecution.
Another scam that cropped up in 2018 involved fraudulent vehicle purchases.
McLaughlin said Coquitlam is one of many jurisdictions where criminals have been known to use fake or stolen identification to buy high-end vehicles or make other large purchases.
THE TOP 5 SCAMS OF 2018
| 1. Canada Revenue Agency scam |
| 2. Chinese arrest scam |
| 3. Identity fraud resulting from theft from a vehicle |
| 4. Fraudulent vehicle purchases |
| 5. Pyramid schemes |
Rounding out the top-five list is the pyramid scheme, which McLaughlin noted has decreased significantly thanks to a recent arrest.
In July, Chrystal Lee Lyons, 44, and Esther Ayshia Vandenbrink, 56, faced several charges after a pyramid gifting scheme was broken up by police.
Mounties at the time alleged the scheme had evolved over the years, with new members being recruited to pay a gift of between $1,000 to $5,000 to join.
Each new member is then expected to recruit more people to pay in to the bottom of the pyramid until they reach the top and either get or share in a $40,000 "birthday gift" payoff.
However, despite the arrest, McLaughlin said a gifting scheme is still active in the community and "has become more secretive in an attempt to evade law enforcement."
Anyone that believes they have been the victim of a fraud or scam can call the police in their jurisdiction. The Coquitlam RCMP can be reached at their non-emergency number at 604-945-1550. Ask for the economic crime unit.
