Scams

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers about delivery scams. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Better Business Bureau offers tips to avoid delivery scams

The BBB recommends keeping an eye out for phishing messages this holiday season

 

Scammers tried to trick a North Vancouver man into believing they had kidnapped his wife, police say. (Credit: Pixabay/Geralt)

Scammers pretend to kidnap North Vancouver man’s wife, demand ransom

Call appeared to come from wife’s phone; woman could be heard in background

 

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)

BBB warning of online shopping scams this holiday season

Online shopping scams reached record highs last year, and are on track to match or surpass this year

 

A fake piano donation almost scammed the Langley Hospice Society, said executive director Shannon Todd Booth. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Grand piano scam targets Langley Hospice Society

Staff narrowly avoided the scam, which has hit other locations

A fake piano donation almost scammed the Langley Hospice Society, said executive director Shannon Todd Booth. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
A woman in Nanaimo lost about $4,000 to scammers claiming to represent an online marketplace. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo woman tricked by scammer into granting online banking access

Woman has $4,000 stolen from bank accounts

A woman in Nanaimo lost about $4,000 to scammers claiming to represent an online marketplace. (News Bulletin file photo)
Employees of the Best Buy in Nanaimo saved a victim from being defrauded of $3,500, says Nanaimo RCMP. (Pixabay photo)

Store employees in Nanaimo prevent scam victim from spending $3,500 on pre-paid credit cards

At least 12 fraud incidents reported in last five days, according to Nanaimo RCMP

Employees of the Best Buy in Nanaimo saved a victim from being defrauded of $3,500, says Nanaimo RCMP. (Pixabay photo)
A 93-year-old senior is left with nothing but bitcoin receipts after being scammed out of $15,000 in July. She’s hoping that sharing her experience will prevent others from being hurt. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Cloverdale senior hit by tag-teaming scammers, defrauding her of $15,000

93-year-old grandmother doesn’t want to see this happen to other seniors

A 93-year-old senior is left with nothing but bitcoin receipts after being scammed out of $15,000 in July. She’s hoping that sharing her experience will prevent others from being hurt. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)
Rent sign via The Star

Rental scams have spiked 160% since 2021, sparking warning from the BBB

The Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C. has released a warning for those looking to rent

Rent sign via The Star
Derek Lints wipes away tears as he speaks about his son Daniel, 17, at his home in Pilot Mound, Man., on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Daniel Lints was sexually exploited online in February and committed suicide as a result. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

“World lost a good person:” Parents warn of global sextortion targeting teens

17-year-old was coerced into sending an explicit image to who he thought was a woman on Snapchat

Derek Lints wipes away tears as he speaks about his son Daniel, 17, at his home in Pilot Mound, Man., on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Daniel Lints was sexually exploited online in February and committed suicide as a result. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
FILE - Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. A massive baby formula recall, combined with COVID-related supply chain problems, is getting most of the blame for the shortage that’s causing distress for many parents across the U.S. But the nation’s formula supply has long been vulnerable to this type of crisis, experts say, due to decades-old rules and policies that have allowed a handful of companies to corner nearly the entire U.S. market. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Scammers taking advantage of baby formula shortages, Better Business Bureau warns

Buyers should be wary of online ads from private sellers saying they have formula available

FILE - Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. A massive baby formula recall, combined with COVID-related supply chain problems, is getting most of the blame for the shortage that’s causing distress for many parents across the U.S. But the nation’s formula supply has long been vulnerable to this type of crisis, experts say, due to decades-old rules and policies that have allowed a handful of companies to corner nearly the entire U.S. market. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Vancouver Island is hardly immune to an ever-increasing number of seniors being targeted by frauds and scams. File Photo

RCMP campaign aims to prevent Vancouver Island seniors from falling victim to scams

Team works to create awareness and provide strategies for protecting seniors against financial loss

Vancouver Island is hardly immune to an ever-increasing number of seniors being targeted by frauds and scams. File Photo
The Regional District of Nanaimo cautions residents that scammers are trying to collect payment for automated waste carts. (News Bulletin file photo)

Regional District of Nanaimo alerts residents to waste cart scam

Caller posed as RDN official, asked for payment for carts

The Regional District of Nanaimo cautions residents that scammers are trying to collect payment for automated waste carts. (News Bulletin file photo)
Langley RCMP officers handcuffed one man when they searched an SUV and seized a quality of fake gold in Langley City on Wednesday, March 16, in the 20200 block of Fraser Highway. Because the suspect wasn’t caught in the act of selling, he was released without being charged after agreeing to leave the province. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

B.C. police bust alleged fake gold scam

Following search and seizure, suspect agrees to leave province

Langley RCMP officers handcuffed one man when they searched an SUV and seized a quality of fake gold in Langley City on Wednesday, March 16, in the 20200 block of Fraser Highway. Because the suspect wasn’t caught in the act of selling, he was released without being charged after agreeing to leave the province. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
FILE - This May 5, 2016, file photo shows Pokemon merchandise. (Mike Lang/Sarasota Herald-Tribune via AP)

2 Pokemon card collectors to get refunds in B.C. online scam case

The Civil Resolution Tribunal ordered Zachary Hall to give full refunds to the buyers

FILE - This May 5, 2016, file photo shows Pokemon merchandise. (Mike Lang/Sarasota Herald-Tribune via AP)
An elderly couple in Nanaimo was defrauded out of nearly $400,000 in a lottery scam, say RCMP. (Stock photo)

B.C. seniors defrauded out of nearly $400,000 in fake lottery scam

Elderly couple regularly sent money orders to pay taxes on their ‘winnings,’ say RCMP

An elderly couple in Nanaimo was defrauded out of nearly $400,000 in a lottery scam, say RCMP. (Stock photo)
An elderly couple in Nanaimo was defrauded out of nearly $400,000 in a lottery scam, say RCMP. (Stock photo)

Nanaimo seniors defrauded out of nearly $400,000 in fake lottery scam

Elderly couple regularly sent money orders to pay taxes on their ‘winnings,’ say RCMP

An elderly couple in Nanaimo was defrauded out of nearly $400,000 in a lottery scam, say RCMP. (Stock photo)
(File photo)

Online purchases, dicey cryptocurrency schemes top Better Business Bureau’s riskiest scams

The anti-fraud agency has been tracking fraud trends with their online Scam Tracker since 2015

(File photo)
Cpl. Andres Sanchez and Staff-Sgt. Wayne Conley of the Sidney / North Saanich RCMP joins North Saanich Mayor Geoff Orr and Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith outside the detachment to raise awareness about the rising number of scams on the Saanich Peninsula. March is Fraud Prevention Month. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sophisticated scammers targeting North Saanich and Sidney: RCMP

Mayors Geoff Orr and Cliff McNeil-Smith concerned about regional spike in scams

Cpl. Andres Sanchez and Staff-Sgt. Wayne Conley of the Sidney / North Saanich RCMP joins North Saanich Mayor Geoff Orr and Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith outside the detachment to raise awareness about the rising number of scams on the Saanich Peninsula. March is Fraud Prevention Month. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Scams are on the rise in the jurisdiction of Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, with recent victims including a North Saanich couple in their 90s. (Black Press Media file photo)

Scammers defraud North Saanich couple in their 90s of more than $10,000

Police encourage residents to say ‘no,’ take time when confronted with calls for urgent help

Scams are on the rise in the jurisdiction of Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, with recent victims including a North Saanich couple in their 90s. (Black Press Media file photo)
VicPD is warning of this text scam making the rounds. (Photo courtesy of VicPD)

Watch out for ‘safety movement’ text scam, Victoria police warn

VicPD says never click on a text offering free money

VicPD is warning of this text scam making the rounds. (Photo courtesy of VicPD)