Phone scams by fraudsters pretending to be Chinese police officers are resurfacing, according to the Richmond RCMP.
Since June, Richmond RCMP has received six reports of phone scams involving callers posing as Chinese police officers and convincing victims to send money.
In the scam, victims receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from an airline or an alleged telecom company and are then told their name is linked to a large investigation in China, explained Cpl. Melissa Lui, Richmond RCMP media relations officer.
Often phone numbers are "spoofed" to make calls appear to be from a legitimate source.
While on the call, victims are transferred to someone posing as a "Chinese police officer" and then instructed to download the Teams application to continue the conversation.
The fake police officers instruct victims to report their location, personal information and a photograph of themselves several times a day.
Victims are told they can pay a "bail" to expedite the investigation or to avoid being arrested or extradited to China.
The money is then sent to an overseas bank account and once the payment is made, communication with the fraudsters stops.
"These fraudsters can be very convincing. They use tactics such as spoofing legitimate numbers or making threats of legal action if money is not sent. Ultimately, their goal is to take your money," said Const. Benjamin Tse with the Richmond RCMP Economic Crime Unit.
"These scams have a devastating financial and emotional impact. Public awareness is the best defence, and we will continue issuing warnings to help prevent further victimization."
Richmond RCMP is warning the public to protect themselves and their loved ones by:
- Being skeptical of unsolicited contacts, especially those requesting payment.
- Staying informed of the latest fraud trends and sharing this knowledge with others.
Those who suspect they are a victim of fraud should report it immediately to their local police.
For more information on recognizing and avoiding scams, and for a full list of common frauds, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
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