Kamloops resident scammed out of $4,000

Nov 15, 2018 | 8:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — Police are advising the public about a scam that recently took a Kamloops resident for thousands of dollars.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says the public should be wary of any phone calls, texts or emails from people claiming to be from a financial institute.

Police were recently notified of a scam where a victim lost $4,000. 

“The victim was contacted on the phone by a male claiming to be employed in the security department of a major Canadian bank,” Shelkie says. “The male instructed the victim to use their credit card to purchase Apple gifts cards and, utilizing a down-loaded computer program, scan and upload the card’s information into the program. The victim was assured that they would be reimbursed for the expenditure by the bank.”

When the reimbursement didn’t come through, the victim contacted the bank, and they were advised it was a scam.

“Banks will never request that their customers purchase gift cards of any kind,” said Shelkie. “If you are unsure if a phone call, letter or email is a scam, check with the bank by contacting them yourself. Look up the bank’s phone number independently or go in person.”

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