The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is warning the public about a scam involving fake police officers and fake bank employees working together.
The scam starts with a phone call from someone claiming to be an employee at the victim’s financial institution.
“They get the victim to tell them information,” Const. Megan Lui told 1130 NewsRadio.
“They confirm the identity, personal date of birth, where they live, where they work.”
While the victim is on the phone with the fake bank employee, they get another call from a phone number that spoofs the local police department’s non-emergency number.
At that point, they speak to someone claiming to be a police officer.
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“That’s when they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re investigating a fraud.’ And that’s when the victim tells them, ‘Oh, I’m already on the phone with the bank,’” Lui said.
“And that’s when the officer tells them, ‘OK, go ahead, send the money to the bank, you can go do that.”
The victim hangs up the call with the “police officer,” who says they will follow up on the call later. The victim then returns to the “bank employee,” who says money has been deposited into their account.
They then tell the victim to go to a bitcoin ATM, buy bitcoin in the amount of the deposit, and send it to them.
Lui says police will never call a member of the public to ask for money or bitcoin.
Police say several victims — including two in their 30s — have fallen prey to the scam, losing a total of around $10,000.