The Victoria Police Department is warning the public after a woman lost $4,000 in a Bitcoin CRA scam.
Patrol officers were dispatched to a fraud call just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, after receiving a report of a woman who had paid the scammers after receiving an automated voicemail telling her of a warrant for her arrest involving her Social Insurance Number (SIN).
The victim reported that she had received an automated telephone call from the “Strathmore RCMP” indicating that a warrant had been issued for her arrest after Service Canada began investigating a Canada Revenue Agency related incident involving her SIN.
VicPD say the scammers were “aggressive, manipulative and convincing.” Police also said the scammers insisted that the victim should stay on the phone, apart from one instance where they gave her a telephone number to call to convince her that the scam was legitimate.
The victim was instructed to convert money into bitcoin for payment. She lost approximately $4,000 in this CRA scam.
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In an ironic twist, the investigating officer was targetted himself by the scammers after receiving an “auto-dialer” call from the “Strathmore Police” to his personal phone while investigating this fraud.
Unfortunately, police say this call did not lead to the suspects. The call does suggest though, that these calls are working their way through Esquimalt and Victoria and officers are urging the public to be vigilant.
Many of these Canada Revenue Agency frauds are pushed or started by organized crime groups based overseas. Sadly, VicPD says victims often do not see their funds returned.
VicPD is assuring residents that Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency will not telephone you to tell you that there is a warrant for your arrest. They will not ask for payment by bitcoin or gift card, according to the police.
If you receive a phone call from the “Strathmore Police” indicating that there is a warrant for your arrest due to a Service Canada or Revenue Canada issue with your social insurance number, you are asked to hang up as it is likely a fraud. If you have concerns, please call the Canada Revenue Agency directly.
To learn more about how to avoid being victimized by scammers, please visit the fraud page of the VicPD website.
To report an unsuccessful fraud attempt please visit the fraud report page on the government website.
Rebecca Lawrence
