Posted:
(4:15 p.m.)
The HRP/RCMP Integrated Financial Crime Unit is issuing a warning about a fraud targeting bank customers.
This morning at 11:39 a.m., police responded to a report of a fraud that occurred last week. The victim reported receiving a call from someone pretending to be a bank manager asking for help in catching a thief. The suspect sent a taxi to bring the victim to the bank where she withdrew a sum of money from her account. She was then driven to another location to meet the suspect to turn over the money. The suspect assured the victim that the money would be returned to her account. The money has not been recovered and officers have determined that the incident is a fraud. Police have heard of another incident where someone received a similar call but did not act on it.
HRM Partners in Policing encourage citizens to be suspicious of any calls asking for money and to make sure the call is legitimate before sending money or making a donation. Don’t give personal information to anyone, whether solicitation occurs by telephone or in person, unless you have initiated the contact or you are certain of the identification of the individual and the legitimacy of the organization they claim to represent.
Anyone who has been a victim of such a scam is encouraged to report it to the HRP/RCMP Integrated Financial Crime Unit at 490-1985 or online at https://www.halifax.ca/fire-police/police/reporting-crime.