SUNDRE – The local RCMP detachment’s commander is urging the public to be cautious if ever receiving a phone call with convoluted stories that ultimately end up directing the victim to send money to avoid being arrested or otherwise punished by authorities.
In a press release dated Feb. 13, Sgt. Trent Sperlie said the detachment had just the day prior received a call from a victim of telephone fraud who reportedly lost $5,000.
“The fraud began when the victim received a call from (someone claiming to represent) Amazon about a suspicious transaction,” reads part of Sperlie’s statement.
The victim was then told they were being transferred through to a ‘secure line’ with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, he said.
“The victim was eventually transferred again to another person,” he said, adding the victim was throughout the course of those conversations told that criminals had created accounts in the victim’s name and were laundering drug money through those accounts.
“As a result, the victim (was told they) now had a criminal record and would be arrested if they didn’t show good faith to the court and transfer $5,000 in the form of cryptocurrency,” he said.
“The entire incident was fraudulent and it wasn’t Amazon nor the Anti-Fraud Centre that the victim was talking to. The victim was even told to not involve the RCMP because it would complicate things,” he said.
The RCMP is advising the public to be aware of such scams and not to send a single cent to callers who ask for money, he said.
“Get the information from the caller and end the call,” he said.
“You can then verify the information by asking a family member, a friend, the police or the bank to ensure you aren’t being scammed. Anyone that pressures you to pay them and to not call the police is scamming you.”
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Sundre RCMP at (403)638-3655. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). Alternatively, information can also be submitted online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
