RCMP are warning the public about a scam involving callers posing as BC Hydro employees after multiple victims were defrauded in Nanaimo.
Police say that over the course of 48 hours from October 31 to November 1, three reports with similar incidents were reported to Nanaimo RCMP.
Victims reported being defrauded of amounts ranging from several hundred dollars to $2,000, with the largest loss affecting a local business.
Police say scammers contact victims and pose as representatives of BC Hydro. The victim is then told that their account is in arrears, and if payment is not received immediately, their power will be shut off.
To appear more convincing, scammers claim to have access to previous bill statements.
The victim is then instructed to make a cash payment, deposited at a specific ATM located in Woodgrove Centre.
Scammers then send an email which contains a QR code. The victim is told that this code must be scanned at the ATM in order to make a payment.
Police say the victims proceeded to Woodgrove Centre and scanned the QR code. At this point, the victims saw their payment converted into bitcoins, which led most of them to realize they were being scammed.
“This is the latest version of the same scam which has been around for years,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“The only difference is that QR codes and email are have been added to make it more authentic.”
RCMP say that any call where a caller demands cash, including from someone claiming to be from a government institution, should be treated as a scam.
They add that legitimate companies will not direct you to cash machines or send QR codes via email to make payments.
The RCMP say it is highly unlikely the victims will be reimbursed for their losses and the phone numbers used in the scam are no longer in service.
More information on scams is available through the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre website at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm
