The Nova Scotia RCMP is warning the public about a number of phone and computer scams requesting payment with cryptocurrency or gift-cards being reported throughout the province.

Various types of scams are on the rise in the province, the most recent involves falsely representing Service Canada, and the vast majority have one thing in common: They involve a request for payment in cryptocurrency or via gift-cards.

“If someone portrays themselves as representing a government institution or other organization, or is someone with whom you’re in an online relationship and have never met and requests payment in cryptocurrency or via gift-cards, regardless of reason, it’s a scam,” says Cpl. Wayne Ross of the Nova Scotia RCMP Commercial Crime Section. 

Police are advising anyone who receives a call asking for anything requiring payment in this fashion to step back and contact your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. For more information about common fraud scams and how to protect yourself, visit he Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

Source: Release