New Westminster police make arrest, recover funds in phone scam case

An alleged scammer’s greed was his undoing in New Westminster last week, according to police, who arrested a man they say was returning to collect more money from a victim who had handed him cash just hours earlier.

The incident occurred on Friday around in the 1900 block of Edinburgh Street, the New Westminster Police Department said in a news release Tuesday.

Around 1:30 p.m. the department was called about a fraud in progress, police said.

“A resident in his 70s had received a call from someone pretending to be his daughter,” the NWPD release reads. “The caller claimed she had been in a car accident and required $6,735 for legal assistance.”

The victim then received another phone call, this time from someone claiming to be his daughter’s lawyer, police said.

“Believing the story to be true, he handed cash to a stranger who met him at his home,” the release continues. “It was then the victim realized he may be the victim of a scam and called police.”

While officers were speaking to the victim, he received another call, this time asking for another $8,000, according to the NWPD.

Officers remained at the scene with the victim and “set up resources to identify the suspect if they returned,” police said.

Around 4 p.m., they saw a man matching the suspect description and took him into custody for fraud over $5,000.

“We’re fortunate to have covert resources, which led to the suspect being taken by surprise when arrested,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver, in an email to CTV News.

Police did not name the suspect in their release, as charges have not yet been laid in the case.

Officers recovered the stolen funds and returned them to the victim, and investigators have since learned that the suspect may be linked to other fraud cases in the Lower Mainland, police said.

“This was an excellent example of officers acting quickly to protect a vulnerable member of our community,” said Hailey Finnigan, communications officer for the NWPD, in the release.

“These scams are designed to prey on emotions and urgency. This officer was able to intervene and ensure the victim’s money was returned.”

Police are reminding the public to be cautious about unsolicited phone calls requesting money. Anyone who receives a call like the victim in this case did should hang up and reach out to a family member who can help verify the facts of the situation, police said.