Halifax District RCMP is reminding people to avoid being scammed when you are asked to send money to strangers.

On Monday, a 73-year-old woman notified police after being scammed by a man who called her claiming to be a representative of the RCMP.

The lady received a telephone call requesting her to donate funds for the RCMP to invest in local banks. She was told her donation would result in more than a triple return for her after it was invested.

The lady sent a money transfer via Western Union for $1300. She then received a telephone call directing her to purchase $800 in gift cards for various businesses and forward codes to the man. However, this is when the quick action of a cashier at a local pharmacy alerted her of this being a scam and to contact police.

The RCMP wants to remind the public that we do not solicit funds. That if you receive such a call, hang up and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

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Source: Media Release