A Burnaby man is speaking out after reading in the Burnaby NOW about how scammers are posing as RCMP.
Burnaby RCMP warned the public earlier this week that one of its detachment phone numbers was recently “spoofed” and used to scam a local resident out of $6,000. Spoofing is when a caller identification (caller ID) or call display is manipulated to show trusted phone numbers.
Last month, Burnaby RCMP got a report that a local resident had transferred $6,000 worth of Bitcoin to a scammer because the call appeared to come from the Burnaby RCMP's Metrotown office, according to police.
The man who contacted the NOW believes he received a similar call and duped for a while until he developed suspicious and ended the conversations.
“I thought it was the real police, but I feel lucky that I wised up in time,” the man said. “It was all very confusing. Then I read the article and realized I was lucky. These people are very convincing.”
The victim detailed by Burnaby RCMP first got a call from a scammer posing as a Canada Border Services Agency official saying the victim owed money that needed to be paid.
When the victim said they didn’t believe the scammer, the scammer warned the victim they would be getting a call from the RCMP.
The victim then got another call that looked like it was coming from the Burnaby RCMP’s Metrotown office, and the victim finally deposited the money, according to police.
Burnaby RCMP are now reminding the public that local police don’t contact individuals through email or telephone for the purpose of collecting money.
This follows a disturbing incident in which a man impersonating a police officer is being sought by Coquitlam RCMP after he allegedly pulled over a vehicle on Highway 1.
Mounties are now issuing a public alert as the suspect also stole money from the driver, who they initially believed was in an unmarked police vehicle.
Spokesperson Cpl. Paige Kuz explains, at around midnight (Dec. 15), the motorist was travelling eastbound on Highway 1 between Brunette Avenue and United Boulevard when they saw flashing red and blue lights on an older model black Dodge Caravan.
After pulling over to the side of the highway, the suspect approached and demanded to see their driver's license.
He then asked for a second piece of ID and their entire wallet.
The suspect, whom Kuz explains was not wearing official attire, took all the cash, threw the wallet to the ground, got back in his vehicle, turned off the red and blue lights and drove away.
"The suspect driver did not wear anything that resembled a police uniform, he did not have a badge, did not wear a duty belt and did not carry a firearm or gun holster."
The fake cop is described as:
- White
- 6'4"
- 250 pounds
- Muscular build
- Spoke with a Russian/Ukrainian accent
- Wearing...
- Black baseball hat with no logos
- Thick black winter jacket with no logos or markings
- Black mask
- Black pants
Anyone who witnessed or has dash can footage of this particular traffic stop on Highway 1 — between 11:45 p.m. and 12 a.m. (Dec. 14/15) — is urged to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file-number 2021-34469, anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go online to www.solvecrime.ca.
- With additional reporting by Kyle Balzer and Cornelia Naylor
