(Image Credit: Dreamstime).

By Aaron Schulze

Scams on the Rise

Merritt RCMP warn residents about prostitute extortion scam

Aug 23, 2022 | 8:33 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — RCMP are warning Merritt residents about an uptick in phone scams over the past few weeks.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Aug. 23) morning, RCMP say scammers have been texting and calling random victims and accusing them of attempting to hire prostitutes and demanding large sums of money from them.

According to Merritt RCMP, the scammers have been threatening that the cartel will kill the victims if they do not comply. In some cases, scammers have sent photographs of firearms and severed human body parts in text messages.

Police say in all reports, the scammers did not know the victims’ names or their locations, and it was a random act to lure money from them.

“We want to urge the public to immediately block the phone number if an incident like this happens to you”, Cst. Ed Query with Merritt RCMP General Duty says. “Please do not send money in any form, whether that be Electronic Money Transfer, gift cards, cheques or money orders. If you ever feel you need to send money to clear a debt or avoid arrest, please call your local police and seek clarification first.”

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Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to a scammer is asked to call Merritt RCMP at (250) 378-4262.