Police are warning the public after two separate incidents in which fraudsters claimed to be VicPD officers and Canada Post workers in order to steal from one victim.
Police say the successful defrauding schemes were sophisticated and elaborate.
The incidents came to VicPD’s attention on Tuesday, February 4th at around 3:40 p.m. when a victim reported what had taken place.
In the first fraudulent call, the victim says they received a call from what was displayed as the VicPD non-emergency number on their caller ID.
According to police, the caller claimed the victim was under investigation for fraud and instructed them to withdraw $3,000 from their bank. After withdrawing the money, they were to go to a specific ATM to buy Bitcoin, and send it to a designated account.
The victim reportedly withdrew the cash and sent $900, but chose to call police back before sending the remaining $2,100.
The other fraudulent call occurred when a scammer called the victim claiming to be a Canada Post representative and recited the victims address to them.
This fraudulent Canada Post caller requested a picture of their ID for “verification,” while claiming a package had been intercepted at the border containing fake IDs, and addressed to the victim’s home.
This scammer reportedly warned that police would freeze their bank accounts in connection to money laundering charges unless a fine was paid in Bitcoin.
Police say that in these incidents, it is unlikely the victim’s money will be recovered.
The tactic used by these fraudsters is called “number spoofing” and is used by cybercriminals to trick call displays into impersonating a legitimate number and authority.
Even VicPD officers and staff say they have received scam calls similar to these with the legitimate non-emergency number displayed on the call display.
They say the use of “voice over IP” calling and artificial intelligence can automate number spoofing, which makes it easier for professional fraudsters to target their victims.
In order to be aware of scams like these and better protect the public from fraudulent callers, VicPD wants to assure the public that officers will never contact individuals by phone to demand money, especially to avoid jail time.
“If someone demands you pay a fine in bitcoin, do not comply. It is a scam,” said VicPD in a press release.
“Once money or cryptocurrency has been sent, it is unlikely to be recovered. Therefore, it is crucial to stay vigilant, especially when dealing with fraudsters who are skilled at exploiting people’s trust for personal gain.”
VicPD added that people should trust their instincts and report any suspicious activity immediately.
More information on fraud can be found on VicPD’s website or through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
