HRP release:
Police are advising citizens to be cautious of a scam that occurred last month in our region.
On May 24 a person received a call from someone pretending to be a bank employee. The scammer advises that the person’s credit cards have been cloned. They put pressure on the victim to act quickly otherwise they will not be reimbursed their funds. The victim is then transferred to a person pretending to be the bank employee’s supervisor who tells them they need to surrender their cards to an employee who will be attending the victim’s residence. A suspect shows up at their residence and seizes the cards before using the cards at various locations.
The suspect in this incident is described as a white man between the ages of 20 to 30-years-old with a thin build. He was seen driving a black Toyota RAV4.
Protect yourself. If you receive a call like this, do not provide or confirm any personal or financial information and hang up the phone.
Police remind people to be suspicious of any emails or calls asking for money and to make sure the person is legitimate before providing any money or information. Scammers can spoof phone numbers and make it appear as though they’re calling from a trusted source. You should not give personal information to anyone, whether solicitation occurs by email, telephone or in person, unless you are certain of the identity of the individual and/or the legitimacy of the organization they claim to represent. In Canada, law enforcement and court officials will not attend a residence to collect money in relation to bail.
If you have been a victim of fraud, do not be afraid to come forward. Call police at 902-490-5020 if you’ve lost money or your identity has been compromised as the result of a scam. You can report a scam where you haven’t been a victim to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, or call 1-888-495-8501.
For more information and scam prevention tips, visit:
