Scams

Recent report warns B.C. residents about tactics used by fraudsters and how to identify them (File Photo)

‘Stick and carrot’: New scams are using threats and kindness to get into Canadians’ wallets

Experts call for online caution and help B.C. residents to identify techniques used by scammers

 

Chilliwack Heritage Park management is telling people that the flyer asking for vendors for the “Spring Fling” is a scam and no such event is being held at the facility in May 2023. (Facebook illustration)

Chilliwack Heritage Park warning about fake event being advertised on social media

Scam flyer tells vendors to email for an application form then follow-up email asks for money

 

Burnaby RCMP say a senior was defrauded $7.5 million in a recent long-term cryptocurrency scam. (Credit: Shutterstock)

B.C. senior defrauded $7.5 million in long-term cryptocurrency scam

Burnaby RCMP say it’s one of the largest personal scams the detachment has ever seen

 

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Burnaby RCMP is warning of a phone scam where someone posed as a victim services employee. (File photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

RCMP warn of phone scammer posing as victim services employee

Man, called by someone pretending to be with Burnaby RCMP Victim Services, has previously lost money to grandparent scam

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Burnaby RCMP is warning of a phone scam where someone posed as a victim services employee. (File photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to remain vigilant against scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) attempting to trick people into identity theft and, in extreme cases, taking control of bank accounts. (Better Business Bureau handout photo)

B.C. college student loses $2,800 in federal tax scam, sparking warning from BBB

Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to be vigilant against scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to remain vigilant against scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) attempting to trick people into identity theft and, in extreme cases, taking control of bank accounts. (Better Business Bureau handout photo)
The New Westminster Police Departments says it’s seeing an increase in the number of men and young boys being targeted by a sextortion scam. (Credit: Pixabay)

Men, young boys increasingly targeted by sextortion scams, B.C. police warn

Victims asked to send nude photos, then blackmailed into paying ransom, New Westminster police say

The New Westminster Police Departments says it’s seeing an increase in the number of men and young boys being targeted by a sextortion scam. (Credit: Pixabay)
Beware of investment pitches over social media. (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)

‘I got sucked into a vortex’: B.C. woman reveals brush with crypto scammer

Authorities offer tips on how to avoid getting caught up in such scams

Beware of investment pitches over social media. (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)
Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Riskiest scams in Canada come from home renovations, cryptocurrency: BBB

2022 report reveals increases in scam susceptibility, average amount of money lost

Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
Sugar-dating scams are becoming quite common, according to the Better Business Bureau. (Lori Lo - Pixabay/Special to The News

Being a sugar baby isn’t so sweet, warns Better Business Bureau

B.C. student narrowly avoids sugar-dating scam

Sugar-dating scams are becoming quite common, according to the Better Business Bureau. (Lori Lo - Pixabay/Special to The News
Police warn of romance scams used by fraudsters in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day that can leave victims out of money and with a broken heart. (Stock photo)

B.C. police warn ‘romance scams’ can trick victims into relationships and out of money

Fraudsters may send seemingly innocent and random messages as first step, say RCMP

Police warn of romance scams used by fraudsters in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day that can leave victims out of money and with a broken heart. (Stock photo)
The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

Online romance scammers may have a new wingman — artificial intelligence

AI can be harnessed to mimic voices and faces

The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP
A Toronto family’s home was sold without their knowledge while they were out of the city. Now the Better Business Bureau is offering tips to residents of B.C. (Graeme Roy/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

How to avoid scammers from selling your home from underneath you

After two home title fraud scams in Toronto, the Better Business Bureau offers tips to avoid this scam

A Toronto family’s home was sold without their knowledge while they were out of the city. Now the Better Business Bureau is offering tips to residents of B.C. (Graeme Roy/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
An elderly North Vancouver couple was nearly tricked into losing thousands of dollars after getting contacted by a fake lawyer. (Credit: Pixabay/ Sabinevanerp)

Elderly couple nearly tricked out of $9K in North Vancouver bail scam

Fraudsters pretended the couple’s grandson had been arrested

An elderly North Vancouver couple was nearly tricked into losing thousands of dollars after getting contacted by a fake lawyer. (Credit: Pixabay/ Sabinevanerp)
The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people purchasing items that they never receive. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

B.C. shoppers warned about devious holiday scams

The BBB says shoppers should avoid buying items from retailers they don’t know

The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people purchasing items that they never receive. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Burnaby RCMP are warning of virtual kidnapping scam after an international student was tricked in August 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. international student tricked into creating hostage videos, paying scammers

Fraudsters posed as Chinese police officers, told student he was a suspect

Burnaby RCMP are warning of virtual kidnapping scam after an international student was tricked in August 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
A senior in New Westminster was scammed out of a large amount of cash after she thought she was paying for her grandson’s bail. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fraudsters pose as grandson, cop to trick B.C. senior into handing over bail cash

Grandson impersonator claimed he’d been arrested with large amounts of cannabis

A senior in New Westminster was scammed out of a large amount of cash after she thought she was paying for her grandson’s bail. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of a scam involving barcodes being swapped on gift cards. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Gift card scam catching B.C. holiday shoppers off guard

Better Business Bureau issues warning after barcodes swapped on cards

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of a scam involving barcodes being swapped on gift cards. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Scammers tried to trick a North Vancouver man into believing they had kidnapped his wife, police say. (Credit: Pixabay/Geralt)

Scammers pretend to kidnap North Vancouver man’s wife, demand ransom

Call appeared to come from wife’s phone; woman could be heard in background

Scammers tried to trick a North Vancouver man into believing they had kidnapped his wife, police say. (Credit: Pixabay/Geralt)
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)

BBB warning of online shopping scams this holiday season

Online shopping scams reached record highs last year, and are on track to match or surpass this year

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)
A fake piano donation almost scammed the Langley Hospice Society, said executive director Shannon Todd Booth. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Grand piano scam targets Langley Hospice Society

Staff narrowly avoided the scam, which has hit other locations

A fake piano donation almost scammed the Langley Hospice Society, said executive director Shannon Todd Booth. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)