Nanaimo RCMP says it is important for residents to be informed about fraud, particularly since it is increasingly woven into our everyday lives.
“As technology evolves, so do the tactics of deceit and their delivery. By staying informed and skeptical, we can better protect ourselves and our communities,” the RCMP says.
Police are warning of specific scams that have been reported in the community, including one that cost a woman $1,700.
Police say she was led to believe her grandson was in jail and needed money to get out.
“In September 2025, she received a phone call from a private number who said they were the RCMP and that her grandson had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident,” police say. “For him to be released from police custody, she had to send the money to crawford112@gmail.com. After the money was sent, she realized she had probably been scammed. She is currently working with her bank to get her money back.”
RCMP say officers will never call asking for money and it is important to confirm the identity of people on phone calls and emails.
Another case involved a person pretending to work for Amazon, saying the victim’s IP address had been compromised. The scammer convinced a person to pay $899 through Western Union and $900 to a Bitcoin ATM.
“No legitimate company including Amazon will ever ask you to deposit money in a bitcoin ATM,” the RCMP says. “Amazon or any company will never have access to your IP address. Browse the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) website for similar scams.”
Other reported scams include a caller convincing a victim to send money for financial planning services. The victim lost $350.
Another victim was convinced to send codes for $40 worth of gift cards, convinced she would win a truck and $150,000 once she paid.
RCMP encourage people to browse the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) to become familiar with common scams.
