A Nanaimo woman says she has been reimbursed half of what she lost after losing $4,000 in a text messaging scam.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the woman thought she was texting her son on Jan. 23, from a Quebec number, when he [the scammer] asked her to help him pay for some bills.
Police say the text messenger used the name Peter Olah, under the business name of Simple Wealth, and instructed the woman to make two e-transfers totaling $4,000 to [email protected].
According to a media release, the scammer tried a second time, the following day, but the woman then contacted her son and realized she had been scammed.
Reserve constable Gary O’Brien says scams of this nature aren’t uncommon and people should use common sense before sending money.
“This scam could happen to anyone. The best course of action is always, slow down, and give it some thought,” he says. “Use Google services to assist if necessary, and always verify who you are communicating with before making any financial decisions.”
The scam came from the number 1-581-702-0162.
The woman has since contacted her bank and alerted them to the scam.
For more information about fraud and scams, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
