Nova Scotians are falling prey to a new scam where criminals pose as police to steal gold, and understanding how it works is key to protection.
The Nova Scotia RCMP Commercial Crime Section warns of an “emerging” fraud where victims are tricked into buying gold and handing it over to impersonators. One instance is reported here, with similar cases across Canada. Scammers contact victims pretending to be from a major bank’s fraud department, claiming money is at risk from foreign hackers, then instruct them to buy gold online using their savings.
Victims are told to give the gold to a “police officer.” Criminals meet them, show fake badges, and take the gold. In the local case, fraudsters claimed to be RCMP but had no uniforms or marked vehicles. Cpl. Mitch Thompson reminds that police do not take items for safekeeping, and banks never ask customers to move funds for a purchase.
How can we better protect our neighbours from these increasingly sophisticated threats to our community’s safety?