Scammer impersonated Abbotsford worker, sent fake invoice to developer, city says

An Abbotsford Police patch is worn by an officer at RCMP "E" Division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Ethan Cairns / The Canadian Press)

The City of Abbotsford is warning residents to be on the lookout for scammers impersonating local government workers after a recent fraud attempt.

Someone claiming to be from the city reached out to “a property owner with an active development application” and asked them to pay an invoice by wire transfer, the city said in a statement Wednesday.

The account the fraudster asked the property owner to wire payment to was not connected to the city, according to the statement.

“Fortunately, the property owner contacted the city before making any payment,” the statement reads.

“To help others avoid similar situations, the city is sharing this information as a precaution and has reported the incident to the Abbotsford Police Department.”

Abbotsford described the incident as “an impersonation scam,” and warned such scams can take many forms, “including emails, text messages, phone calls, letters, QR codes or fake websites.”

“These messages often look legitimate and may include official logos, familiar names and urgent language to pressure people into acting quickly,” the city said.

It advised anyone who believes they have received a fraudulent message to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Those living in Abbotsford should also report scams to the local police department by calling the non-emergency line at 604-859-5225, the city said.