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December 15, 2020 - 11:48 AM
RCMP in Kamloops want everyone to be aware of a phone scam that cost a local woman $12,000.
Police received the complaint Dec. 14 from the victim, who was contacted by a fraudster claiming to be from a major credit card company's head office, according to an RCMP media release.
The caller asked for the woman's help to catch bank employees who were giving out personal information, and told her she was under investigation for fraud if she had any involvement.
She spoke to several different people who claimed to be from the credit card company, who advised her not to call her bank because they may be involved in the crime.
The caller told her they were working with the police and she was then provided a verification code and told she would soon receive a call from a local bank.
Shortly after she received a call from a man claiming to be a manager from a major bank who asked her for the verification code. Once the code was given, the caller was able to provide her with details of a purchase she made recently on her credit card and he asked for some personal banking verification questions.
The alleged bank representative then asked her to purchase several gift cards on her credit card, and asked her to read the gift card numbers to him.
After the call concluded she tried to call the telephone number she was provided and each time received an answering machine message which stated it was the credit card company's head office.
"Some of these scams appear to be very legitimate and are very detailed to make you believe they are real when in fact they are not," Kamloops RCMP Sgt. Darren Michels said in the release.
"If you are ever in doubt, hang up and call your local bank at the publicly posted number or personally attend the bank. Never provide personal banking information or passwords with anyone over the phone."
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