Burnaby man charged for Publishers Clearing House scam

COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — A 27-year-old Burnaby man has been charged with fraud after four people were scammed out of thousands of dollars.

According to Coquitlam RCMP, one of the victims of the “Publishers Clearing House” scam called the police Nov. 4, 2019, prompting the investigation that crossed several jurisdictions. In the process, police seized multiple cell phones, a laptop, and more than $20,000 in cash.

Publishers Clearing House is a direct marketing company that does sweepstake prizes.

Joel Kibangula of Burnaby was charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000.

“Scammers target citizens with high-pressure scare tactics,” says Const. Deanna Law. “We need to educate our community in order to stop these crimes. The best defence is to hang up, talk to a trusted friend and verify.”

Coquitlam RCMP compiled the following list of common scams:

• Publisher’s Clearing House Scam: You’ve won a prize! All you need to do is pay a “tax” before you get your winnings. Best defence: You do not pay taxes on lottery winnings. More importantly, you cannot win a contest you did not enter.
• The bank security scam is number one on the Coquitlam RCMP’s top five most concerning scams. Best defence: Hang up and verify. You will never be able to “help” a real bank, or be able to pay your bank bills, with gift cards.
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scam: You get a call from the “CRA” (or any government agency) saying you owe tax and you’ll be arrested if you don’t send money right now, usually using a cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) machine. Best defence: Hang up. You can’t be arrested by CRA or any other government agency for debt. Nor can you pay government bills with Bitcoin.
• Wallet theft fraud: Leaving your wallet or purse in your car, your shopping cart, or your locker creates an opportunity for scammers. They will quickly use your credit cards to rack up purchases before you realize they’re missing. Best defence: Never leave your wallet or purse in your car or unattended. Carry only the cards you need, and never carry your SIN card.
• Online job scam: You’ve posted a resume online. Now, a “boss” wants you to deposit a large cheque, keep a “commission,” and send the bulk to the boss. When the cheque bounces days later, you owe the bank the whole cheque. Best defence: Never deposit a cheque on behalf of another person.
• Romance Scams: Fraudsters will gain the trust of the victim by carrying on a relationship over a period of time. This can include displays of affection, such as sending gifts, flowers and tokens to prove that their feelings are genuine. In many cases, the fraudster will claim to be professional business people or military personnel that are travelling or stationed abroad. Once trust is gained, fraudsters will begin to ask for financial assistance for reasons like urgent situations (e.g. a sick family member or to complete a business transaction) or to return to the country (e.g. plane ticket, lawyer fees, or duty & taxes).

For more information, or to report fraud, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.