Scams

A scam targeting seniors is once again hitting the phone lines in Kelowna. (Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash)

‘Grandparent scam’ lies to Kelowna seniors about loved ones being in custody

RCMP received 12 complaint calls of fraud in one day

 

Recent report warns B.C. residents about tactics used by fraudsters and how to identify them (File Photo)

‘Stick and carrot’: New scams are using threats and kindness to get into Canadians’ wallets

Experts call for online caution and help B.C. residents to identify techniques used by scammers

 

Burnaby RCMP say a senior was defrauded $7.5 million in a recent long-term cryptocurrency scam. (Credit: Shutterstock)

B.C. senior defrauded $7.5 million in long-term cryptocurrency scam

Burnaby RCMP say it’s one of the largest personal scams the detachment has ever seen

 

Police are warning of a gift card scam which has targeted some Summerland residents. (Black Press file photo)

Gift card scam targets Summerland residents

Scammers claim to be from financial institutions

Police are warning of a gift card scam which has targeted some Summerland residents. (Black Press file photo)
The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Burnaby RCMP is warning of a phone scam where someone posed as a victim services employee. (File photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

RCMP warn of phone scammer posing as victim services employee

Man, called by someone pretending to be with Burnaby RCMP Victim Services, has previously lost money to grandparent scam

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Burnaby RCMP is warning of a phone scam where someone posed as a victim services employee. (File photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to remain vigilant against scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) attempting to trick people into identity theft and, in extreme cases, taking control of bank accounts. (Better Business Bureau handout photo)

B.C. college student loses $2,800 in federal tax scam, sparking warning from BBB

Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to be vigilant against scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to remain vigilant against scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) attempting to trick people into identity theft and, in extreme cases, taking control of bank accounts. (Better Business Bureau handout photo)
The New Westminster Police Departments says it’s seeing an increase in the number of men and young boys being targeted by a sextortion scam. (Credit: Pixabay)

Men, young boys increasingly targeted by sextortion scams, B.C. police warn

Victims asked to send nude photos, then blackmailed into paying ransom, New Westminster police say

The New Westminster Police Departments says it’s seeing an increase in the number of men and young boys being targeted by a sextortion scam. (Credit: Pixabay)
Beware of investment pitches over social media. (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)

‘I got sucked into a vortex’: B.C. woman reveals brush with crypto scammer

Authorities offer tips on how to avoid getting caught up in such scams

Beware of investment pitches over social media. (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)
Penticton RCMP are warning seniors of ongoing telephone scams posing as loved ones. (Image by Pexels from Pixabay)

Police warning Penticton seniors to be careful after uptick in phone scams

Scammers often pose as loved ones in desperate situations and ask for money

Penticton RCMP are warning seniors of ongoing telephone scams posing as loved ones. (Image by Pexels from Pixabay)
Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Riskiest scams in Canada come from home renovations, cryptocurrency: BBB

2022 report reveals increases in scam susceptibility, average amount of money lost

Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
Sugar-dating scams are becoming quite common, according to the Better Business Bureau. (Lori Lo - Pixabay/Special to The News

Being a sugar baby isn’t so sweet, warns Better Business Bureau

B.C. student narrowly avoids sugar-dating scam

Sugar-dating scams are becoming quite common, according to the Better Business Bureau. (Lori Lo - Pixabay/Special to The News
Police warn of romance scams used by fraudsters in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day that can leave victims out of money and with a broken heart. (Stock photo)

B.C. police warn ‘romance scams’ can trick victims into relationships and out of money

Fraudsters may send seemingly innocent and random messages as first step, say RCMP

Police warn of romance scams used by fraudsters in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day that can leave victims out of money and with a broken heart. (Stock photo)
The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

Online romance scammers may have a new wingman — artificial intelligence

AI can be harnessed to mimic voices and faces

The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP
A Toronto family’s home was sold without their knowledge while they were out of the city. Now the Better Business Bureau is offering tips to residents of B.C. (Graeme Roy/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

How to avoid scammers from selling your home from underneath you

After two home title fraud scams in Toronto, the Better Business Bureau offers tips to avoid this scam

A Toronto family’s home was sold without their knowledge while they were out of the city. Now the Better Business Bureau is offering tips to residents of B.C. (Graeme Roy/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
RCMP

Not so smart: Kelowna RCMP seeing false 911 calls from watches

Uptick in mistake calls during ski season

RCMP
The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people purchasing items that they never receive. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

B.C. shoppers warned about devious holiday scams

The BBB says shoppers should avoid buying items from retailers they don’t know

The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people purchasing items that they never receive. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Burnaby RCMP are warning of virtual kidnapping scam after an international student was tricked in August 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. international student tricked into creating hostage videos, paying scammers

Fraudsters posed as Chinese police officers, told student he was a suspect

Burnaby RCMP are warning of virtual kidnapping scam after an international student was tricked in August 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
A senior in New Westminster was scammed out of a large amount of cash after she thought she was paying for her grandson’s bail. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fraudsters pose as grandson, cop to trick B.C. senior into handing over bail cash

Grandson impersonator claimed he’d been arrested with large amounts of cannabis

A senior in New Westminster was scammed out of a large amount of cash after she thought she was paying for her grandson’s bail. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of a scam involving barcodes being swapped on gift cards. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Gift card scam catching B.C. holiday shoppers off guard

Better Business Bureau issues warning after barcodes swapped on cards

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of a scam involving barcodes being swapped on gift cards. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Two lost dog scams posted to Facebook Nov. 30 2022. (Facebook photos)

Lost dog scam making the rounds on Okanagan-Shuswap social media groups

BC SPCA reminds people to go through official channels to report, adopt lost dogs

Two lost dog scams posted to Facebook Nov. 30 2022. (Facebook photos)