Police in Richmond, B.C., say they’ve received three more reports of a bank card scam in the city since they issued a warning about it last month.
The scam involves fraudsters calling victims claiming to be from their bank’s fraud department. The caller tells the victim their card has been compromised and offers to send someone to collect it, according to an updated warning shared by Richmond RCMP Wednesday.
If the victim agrees, a scammer visits them at home to collect their bank cards, promising to deliver replacement cards the following day. Instead, the fraudster transfers funds out of the victim’s account, police said.
Mounties did not share details about the three new reports of the scam that have come in since they shared their initial warning on Dec. 5. They did say, however, that they suspect the fraudsters already know the victims' addresses in some cases.
Police said the scammers appear to be targeting older residents who have home phones and addresses listed in public phone directories.
“This scam is especially concerning because it involves direct, in-person contact, which makes it look more legitimate,” said Cpl. Denise Kam of the Richmond RCMP Economic Crime Unit, in Wednesday’s warning.
“We want the public to be aware and take steps to protect themselves.”
Police warn people to be wary of unsolicited calls, especially those requesting personal or financial information, and to never share bank or credit card PINs with anyone.
“If you receive a call claiming to be from your bank, ask for their internal reference or file number and call back using the number on your financial documents or their official website,” police suggested in their warning.
They also noted replacement cards are never hand-delivered, and bank cards should never be handed over to anyone.
“By informing the public, we aim to reduce the number of people impacted by this scam,” said Cpl. Adriana O’Malley, in the warning.
“Awareness and education are the most effective ways to prevent becoming a victim.”
