Eleven more victims have been defrauded in Richmond since April by scammers pretending to be bank officials.
Richmond RCMP is once again warning the public of this recurring scam whereby fraudsters call the victim and say their bank card has been compromised.
The fraudsters then convince the victim to give their personal and banking information, including their PIN, and to hand over their bank cards to suspects who come to their home and claim to be rideshare couriers.
In some cases, a link to a fraudulent website that mimics a financial institution was sent to the victims, who then input personal details and banking security information.
These bank cards were then used to withdraw cash or to buy high-end merchandise and foreign currency.
Since April, victims have lost $53,000 in these scams. In most cases, the victims were on the hook for their losses.
Richmond RCMP media relations officer Melissa Lui said the escalation of the tactics being used is “concerning.”
“Often, these scammers operate across jurisdictions and as part of broader crime networks,” Lui said in a press release.
“Our economic crime investigators work with partner agencies to combat and disrupt their operations and hold perpetrators accountable. Awareness and education are the most effective ways to prevent victimization and we encourage anyone who may have been a victim to report to police as soon as possible.”
Tips to protect against fraud
- Be skeptical of unsolicited phone calls from unknown numbers, especially those requesting personal or financial information.
- Never share credit card or banking card PIN with anyone.
- Do not hand over your bank card to anyone, especially those purporting to be couriers. Safely dispose of expired or compromised cards yourself.
- If you suspect your credit or banking card has been compromised, contact the phone number on the card itself for more information.
- Consider banking in person, and not online or by telephone.
For detailed advice on recognizing and avoiding being a victim of fraud and a list of other common scams, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
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