Victoria resident loses $50K in Bitcoin scam, police warn
Victoria police are issuing a reminder to the public to be on the lookout for scams after a local resident lost nearly $50,000 to a recent scam.
Police say the fraud began when the victim received an email that seemingly appeared to come from PayPal.
The email said the victim owed PayPal $499 and that urgent action was required. The victim called a number included in the email and was told by scammers that they in fact owed $49,999 – well above the initial $499.
The victim was then instructed to go to their bank and withdraw the money but to tell the bank workers that the money was being used to purchase property to avoid suspicion.
The victim was then coached through depositing the cash through several Bitcoin ATMs across Greater Victoria.
"It was only then that the victim realized they had been the victim of a fraud and contacted police," said VicPD in a release Monday.
SAFETY TIPS
Victoria police say it's important for residents to be aware of different types of fraud, and to make sure that vulnerable family members are also informed of them.
"These professional criminals use the combination of technology and intimidation to overwhelm their victims’ good sense," said police Monday.
VicPD has released several tips on how to spot a scam:
- If someone contacts you, demands money and also demands that you don’t tell anyone, it is likely a fraud.
- If someone contacts you to tell you that you owe money, but then significantly increases the amount you seemingly owe after contacting them, it is likely a fraud.
- If someone asks you to lie about the purpose of withdrawing money, it is likely a fraud.
- If a business asks you to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM for payment, it is likely a fraud.
More information about scams and fraud can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
Police say it's very unlikely the victim in this investigation will be able to recover their money.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.