There were 92 reports of fraud to Richmond RCMP in May — according the latest statistics released by police — and almost 500 in the first five months of 2025.
Richmond RCMP is launching a new awareness campaign about fraud, which they say costs victims millions of dollars every year.
RCMP note scammers work online, offline and in-person. Theft of credit cards from vehicles and mailboxes continues to drive some of this fraud.
But in-person and phone scams are also prevalent in Richmond.
Since April, the Richmond RCMP has received eight reports of fraud attempts whereby scammers posed as bank employees on the phone and then went to a victim’s home to pick up a credit card they claimed was compromised.
Investment scams are another common fraud.
RCMP warn the public to look for red flags, such as scammers claiming you can make a lot of money with little to no risk, claiming to have hot tips or insider information and using high-pressure tactics to force the victim to make a quick decision.
“These scams are calculated and often operate across international borders,” said Cpl. Michael Ber with the Richmond RCMP Economic Crime Unit.
“Scammers present themselves as legitimate using convincing personas and apply pressure tactics to compel victims to act quickly. While funds lost to scammers in this way can be difficult to recover, there are instances when it is possible. We urge victims to always report to police immediately.”
Anyone who is a victim of a scam or fraud should contact local police as soon as possible.
If you have received a suspicious text, email or phone call but have not provided any personal information or lost any money, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca to file a report.
For a full list of common scams and how to report them, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter.
💬 Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
