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November 17, 2020 - 7:30 PM
Police are warning residents of Salmon Arm and surrounding areas to protect their wallets and their hearts from a new bitcoin scam.
The scammer starts by contacting the victim by phone, e-mail or through a dating site, according to an RCMP release.
They strike up a relationship to build trust, and over time will start asking the victim for money. In some cases the scammer convinces the victim that they need the money to travel to Canada to marry the victim, get out of some kind of legal trouble or to address a medical issue. These scams can take months to develop, and the story varies from one situation to the next.
In some cases the victim will not believe it is a scam, even when they are told by police, because they have been convinced that the scammer loves them.
"People who may be lonely are at a higher risk of falling prey to the smooth talking scammer who is willing to listen and make them feel loved," Salmon RCMP said in a release. "In times like these we urge everyone to reach out to family and friends in a safe way and make sure everyone has contact and does not feel alone."
The scam has been targeting elderly women. RCMP advise against sending money, bitcoin, gift cards or cheques to people you have not personally met.
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