The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Nova Scotia have issued a cautionary alert regarding a fresh scam scheme that residents should be vigilant about. The scam entails individuals buying gold and surrendering it to impostors posing as police officers.
Cpl. Mitch Thompson from the RCMP commercial crime division revealed to CBC’s Information Morning that scammers are contacting victims, claiming to be from a bank’s fraud unit, and asserting that their funds are in jeopardy due to foreign cyber threats.
Subsequently, the victims are instructed to procure gold from a reputable Canadian online dealer using their personal savings and investments. The scammers then direct the victims to hand over the purchased gold to an individual pretending to be a law enforcement officer.
Thompson highlighted that the scammers often utilize intermediaries to facilitate the handover, introducing a layer of risk when meeting in person. While there has been only one reported incident of this particular scam in Nova Scotia, similar fraudulent activities are occurring in Ontario.
This type of deceit is commonly referred to as a bank investigator scam or a financial grooming scam. Thompson emphasized that scammers establish a rapport over time to lower the chances of their scheme being reported or investigated before they profit from it.
The scammers employ tactics of urgency and confidentiality to cloud victims’ judgment and evade detection. However, Thompson advised being alert for certain red flags, such as unrealistic claims by supposed bank representatives and demands for financial assets by alleged law enforcement officers.
Regarding scammers posing as police officers, Thompson indicated that authentic officers always carry identification cards and badges with matching details and photos, which individuals can request to verify their legitimacy.
While the resolution of such cases varies, victims invariably endure financial losses and feelings of shame, contributing to underreporting of fraud incidents. Thompson stressed the prevalence of fraud victimization in Canada, emphasizing that fraud transcends social, gender, and racial boundaries, making everyone susceptible.
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