DATE: May 16, 2019
FILE# 2019-2562
PORT MOODY – Each year around tax season residents throughout the country are bombarded with countless telephone scam calls, texts and emails. The Port Moody Police Department (PMPD) would like to advise residents of yet another form of telephone scam recently making the rounds.
Earlier this month, a Port Moody resident was caught in a banking scam, and unfortunately defrauded approximately $50,000 in savings through multiple transactions over the course of about one week.
On May 15, 2019, a Port Moody resident reported that she had received a telephone call from a male “supposedly” representing RBC. The suspect falsely advised the victim that there had been several fraudulent purchases on her VISA card, and that she was required to transfer money to help resolve the matter.
A male suspect, posing as an RCMP officer, then convinced the victim to transfer multiple lines of credit, in addition to purchasing “Google Play” cards, in order to fund the apprehension of the alleged “suspect” and recover her money.
The suspect assisted the victim to conveniently transfer the funds through an unknown program using the victim’s desktop computer. The suspect likely guided the victim through the online process as part of the scheme.
The PMPD would like to remind residents that calls such as these are not legitimate, and should in all cases be ignored.
No police department (nor police officer) will ever call you demanding immediate electronic payment to clear an arrest warrant, or require you to electronically send them funds to assist in an investigation.
As always, be very cautious regarding any telephone calls from unknown sources demanding monetary payment. If it sounds suspicious, then it very likely is!
Please refer to the following link for more information on how to protect yourself from potential scammers: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/telemarketing/fraud.htm.
If you are the victim of a fraud, please contact the Port Moody Police Department at 604-461-3456.
Released by
Cst. Jason Maschke
Community Relations Officer
Port Moody Police
www.portmoodypolice.com
Email: media@portmoodypolice.com
3051 St Johns Street
Port Moody, BC V3H 2C4
Office 604-461-3456
Fax: 604-937-1311