RCMP Warns Of Latest Scam

Brian MacKenzie Teepell/USPA 24 News - Source: Nova Scotia Royal Canadian RCMP
News Release:
The Nova Scotia RCMP Commercial Crime Section is warning the public about an emerging scam where victims are tricked into converting their money into gold and then giving that gold to scammers posing as police officers.

Victims are contacted by scammers pretending to be with the fraud department of a major Canadian bank and are told that their money is at risk from foreign hackers. Victims are directed to purchase gold from a legitimate online dealer in Canada using their savings and investments, then to hand that gold over to a police officer for “safekeeping.”

Scammers meet with the victims, produce fake police badges, and take the gold. Similar frauds have been reported in other parts of Canada. One instance of this type of fraud has been reported in Nova Scotia and is currently under investigation. In this case, the scammers claimed to be RCMP investigators and presented fake badges that do not match those issued to RCMP officers. They did not wear police uniforms or drive police vehicles.

Cpl. Mitch Thompson of the Commercial Crime Section said: “Police will not take financial instruments from people for safekeeping, just as banks will never ask you to remove your money from your accounts and use it to purchase something else."

Cpl. Mitch Thompson went on to say: “If you receive a call from your bank and aren’t sure about what they’re telling you, hang up before you follow any directions. Reach out to your local bank branch, call the number on the back of your debit or credit card, or talk to someone that you trust about what you should do next.”

Anyone who may have been a victim of this or any other fraud is asked to contact police of jurisdiction. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app. Learn more about RCMP officer identification in Nova Scotia. Learn more about scams in Canada and how to protect yourself from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.