Victim loses $11.9K to cryptocurrency scam, B.C. police warn

A fraudulent email purporting to be from a Government of Canada official is shown in this image handed out by the Salmon Arm RCMP.

Mounties are warning the public after a woman lost thousands of dollars in a cryptocurrency scam wherein fraudsters posed as federal officials.

The Salmon Arm RCMP says the victim reported receiving a phone call on Wednesday from a scammer claiming to be a “deputy in Ottawa,” who told her they had evidence she had committed identity theft—when she had not.

The caller demanded she prove her identity to clear her name by opening a cryptocurrency wallet and depositing cash into a Bitcoin ATM.

The victim followed the fraudster’s instructions and deposited $11,900, according to police.

On Thursday, another victim reported receiving a phone call from a fraudster claiming to be with the “Government of Canada Crown Attorney Office”—an office that does not exist—and was told his identity was being used for crime.

The man also received an email with a government letterhead instructing him to verify his identity using “blockchain technology.” The email contains threats of arrest and “irreversible financial losses” if he did not immediately comply.

The victim reported the incident to police, who informed him it was a scam before he lost any money, the detachment said.

“A general rule of thumb is if you receive unsolicited phone calls, text messages, or emails from anyone requesting money, personal information, or asking you to sign into any sort of account, it should be treated as a scam,” Salmon Arm RCMP spokesperson Const. Andrew Hodges said, in a statement Friday.

“These scams often play on your emotions by appearing time sensitive and push you to make quick decisions. Contact your local police before taking any action if you are unsure.”

More information on scams can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website or the B.C. RCMP’s fraud page.