Richmond fraud victim loses $1.5M as scammers pose as Chinese police
Posted July 24, 2024 1:03 pm.
Last Updated July 25, 2024 6:08 am.
The Richmond RCMP is issuing a warning after a single person lost over $1.5 million in a scam.
Mounties say the victim was told by fraudsters posing as Chinese police officers that there was an outstanding arrest warrant for them in Hong Kong.
The victim told police they had sent the large sum of money to the scammers as a result. The person reported the scam to the RCMP on July 14.
“These fraudsters are highly convincing and use various tactics to induce fear, making the victim feel compelled to comply with their demands,” said Sgt. Dave Au of the Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit.
“While we are committed to thoroughly investigating these frauds, community awareness is crucial in preventing future incidents.”
Investigators say the scam is targeting the Asian community in particular. However, they warn that all residents should be vigilant to ensure they don’t get caught up, noting fraudsters can use “evolving tactics” on “any demographic.”
Police are reminding people that government agencies will never request payment through Bitcoin, Google Pay, or iTunes gift cards. Anyone who receives such a request is told to hang up the phone right away and to report the situation to police.
