N.B. RCMP warns public about new life insurance policy scam

(Source: RCMP)

A new life insurance policy scam is prompting police in New Brunswick to issue a warning to residents.

Scammers use obituaries to identify family members of people who have recently died, according to a news release from the New Brunswick RCMP. A few months after the death, the scammer reaches out to the family member to tell them they are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy payout.

“In many cases, the scammers identify themselves by a common first name and a well-known life insurance company,” reads the release.

“The scammer will use the information provided in the obituary to obtain more personal information. Once personal information has been obtained, it can be used to commit other frauds.”

The RCMP says a scammer can create fake identity documents which can then be used to apply for credit using the victim’s name and person banking information.

“These scammers take advantage of an emotional situation to get people to share their personal information,” said Cpl. Matt LeBlanc-Smith from the New Brunswick RCMP. “Please be cautious about providing any financial or personal details over the phone before confirming that it is a legitimate request from an authorized entity. One way to do this is to hang up, and call the company directly.”

Police say any suspicious activity can be reported to a local RCMP detachment and more information on how to protect yourself from frauds and scams can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.