Scams

Police are warning the public after a New Westminster man was scammed into buying fake gold for $1,800. (New Westminster Police Department)

Fraudsters trick B.C. man into buying $1,800 of fake gold jewellery

Police say scammers claimed to be wealthy foreigners who had been robbed and need cash

 

Cobble Hill Puzzle Company has a full gallery of images online to help potential customers avoid scams – particularly on Facebook. (Cobble Hill Puzzles/Facebook)

Facebook scams plague Saanich puzzle company with worldwide reach

Fake businesses change ‘website and identities faster than burning paper’

 

Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon talks during a press conference in the rotunda at the legislature Victoria, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. British Columbia’s minister of housing is warning people not to fall for short-term rental scams as the province moves to limit the hotel alternatives to increase housing stock. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. housing minister warns not to help ‘desperate scammers’ with Airbnb fraud

Rental company offering B.C. residents cash in exchange for lying about their address

 

According to the Central Saanich Police Service, Facebook Marketplace scams have been on the rise. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)

‘I was taken so badly’: Victoria scam victims speak out about online tricks

Central Saanich police warn residents about an uptick in Facebook Marketplace scams

According to the Central Saanich Police Service, Facebook Marketplace scams have been on the rise. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)
A woman on Oak Bay handed over $20,000 to someone she met online. (Unsplash photo)

Sweet talker swindles Vancouver Island woman out of $20K in romance scam

Financial planner made sure the damage wasn’t worse

A woman on Oak Bay handed over $20,000 to someone she met online. (Unsplash photo)
Nanaimo RCMP receive numerous reports related to spoof calls, where a fraudster is able to use a seemingly legitimate phone number to take advantage of a victim. (News Bulletin photo)

Officials in Nanaimo warn of scam calls from seemingly legit phone numbers

Nanaimo RCMP estimates 20 complaints of call ID spoofing made a month

Nanaimo RCMP receive numerous reports related to spoof calls, where a fraudster is able to use a seemingly legitimate phone number to take advantage of a victim. (News Bulletin photo)
Be careful about accepting e-transfers for a deposit on something you are selling. (iStock photo)

Greater Victoria sellers scammed with e-transfers that actually take money

Website that specializes in used items warns the public

Be careful about accepting e-transfers for a deposit on something you are selling. (iStock photo)
(File Photo)

‘Too good to be true’: American couple falls victim to Revelstoke rental scam

In 2021 Canadians lost $12.3 million in merchandise fraud, which includes rental scams

(File Photo)
$100,000 worth of flooring was purchased fraudulently but intercepted by Kelowna RCMP. (Kelowna RCMP)

Observant Kelowna employee foils $100K flooring fraud

“This is a textbook example why stores should have internal policies” said the Kelowna RCMP

$100,000 worth of flooring was purchased fraudulently but intercepted by Kelowna RCMP. (Kelowna RCMP)
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

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

Burnaby RCMP say a senior was defrauded $7.5 million in a recent long-term cryptocurrency scam. (Credit: Shutterstock)
Nanaimo RCMP report a new twist to the grandson scam where a phoney bail bondman comes to victim’s home to collect money. (Stock photo)

Phony ‘bail bond’ collectors show up at scam victims’ homes in Nanaimo

Nanaimo RCMP issue warning about new twist on ‘grandson scam’

Nanaimo RCMP report a new twist to the grandson scam where a phoney bail bondman comes to victim’s home to collect money. (Stock 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’: Victoria woman reveals brush with crypto scammer

Authorities offer tips on how to avoid such scams

Beware of investment pitches over social media. (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)
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)
Nanaimo RCMP are warning of scams that have plagued victims in this city and across Canada. (Stock photo)

Island RCMP remind people to ‘know the signs’ of common frauds and scams

Police detail cases in which victims have been scammed out of thousands of dollars

Nanaimo RCMP are warning of scams that have plagued victims in this city and across Canada. (Stock photo)