At 6:15 a.m. on March 6, a Digby woman received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Scotiabank Fraud Section, asking if she had charged money to her Visa. When the victim told them she had not, the suspect talked her into giving them remote access to her computer and online banking. The victim was told tellers at the bank were being investigated for fraud by the RCMP, and her accounts might be compromised. The victim was also told the RCMP would be putting their own money into her account. Money was added to her account, which she later learned had come from her own line of credit. The victim was instructed to go to her bank and withdraw money. The victim was then directed to attend other banks in Digby and deposit the money into specific accounts. The scammers called the victim frequently throughout the day with instructions, or asking for the status of their most recent demands. In total over $35,000 had been scammed from the victim.
The RCMP wishes to remind the public that they should never provide financial information over the phone. Citizens are asked to be wary of unsolicited calls regarding financial information and check with your financial institution before allowing access to your personal information. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a caller, ask for a call back number and check with your bank immediately. You can report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or online atwww.antifraudcentre.ca.
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Source: Media Release