**** RCMP Media Release
Scammer defrauds victim by asking for help identifying bank activity
Halifax District RCMP is warning the public of a recent scam involving a caller asking for help to identify suspicious transactions made by a bank employee.
On December 15, RCMP responded to a complaint from a 74-year-old Cole Harbour woman who was defrauded a sum of money. The victim had received a call from someone stating that there was unauthorized activity on her credit card and suggested it was a bank employee who may be responsible. The caller asked the victim to help identify the employee by downloading software and was told she would receive a sum of money to purchase gift cards. She was then asked to provide the codes to the caller to see how the bank would deal with the transactions.
Police want to remind the public that being scammed is never the victim’s fault and that these individuals can be very persuasive and convincing. You are not alone if you have been the victim of fraud.
Anyone who suspects they may be the victim of fraud or have been tricked into giving personal or financial information should contact their local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m. AST) or online at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
