Phone scammers posing as cops, say police
City police force says three instances reported this week; one victim almost lost $115,000
The Fredericton Police Force issued an alert Thursday, announcing a new scam is making the rounds that sees the perpetrators posing as local cops to target seniors in the capital region.
In an advisory on social media Thursday, the police force noted the scheme has followed a repeated pattern. It said scammers pose as Fredericton police officers, telling victims their bank cards were used fraudulently at local stores.
“(The) caller urges the victim to contact their banking customer-service line immediately while keeping the scammer on the line,” the advisory stated.
“The same caller then poses as an employee of the banking institution’s fraud department.”
The victim - typically a senior - is asked to verify their bank-account details and then directed to transfer a sum of money to what the caller calls “a secure account” to aid the investigation and to catch a fictional bank employee involved in the so-called fraudulent transactions.
“Three instances have been reported to police in the past week, with one victim nearly losing $115,000,” the post stated. “Quick intervention was able to stop the transfer.”
The police force urges people to be vigilant and to share the details of the new scam with friends and family members to ensure others don’t fall victim to it.
“Scams are becoming more sophisticated, making it crucial to stay informed to protect yourself and your loved ones,” the police force said.
Among the ways to avoid being victimized by such schemes, police advise people to be suspicious of calls demanding money or asking you to transfer money, to be aware that police agencies never demand immediate payment to avoid arrests, to refrain from giving out personal information to unsolicited callers, to check with a family member about the story they’ve been told, to refrain from sending money to anyone under unusual circumstances and to hang up on such scam callers.
It also encourages people to report all fraud cases to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Anyone who feels they have been a victim of such a crime should contact the Fredericton Police Force at 506-460-2300 or their police agency.
Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.