A Parksville Qualicum Beach resident lost $5,000 after a caller claimed to be from police and said gift cards were needed to help catch a fraudster.
The incident was reported to Oceanside RCMP as part of a local police report involving fraud and other calls for service, according to the Vancouver Island Free Daily.
The caller allegedly made the request sound like part of a police operation. The resident was told the gift cards were needed to help catch someone involved in fraud.
Instead, the resident was defrauded out of $5,000. The report did not identify the resident, the caller, or any suspect.
The Caller Claimed to Be Helping Police
The key detail was the caller’s claim to be connected to police. That made the request sound more official than a normal stranger asking for money.
The caller did not simply ask the resident for cash. The story was framed as cooperation with law enforcement, with the resident led to believe the gift cards would help catch a fraudster.
That false investigative angle gave the request a sense of urgency and purpose. A person who believes police need help may be less likely to stop and question why gift cards are being requested.
The $5,000 Was Taken Through Gift Cards
The resident was convinced to buy gift cards and lost $5,000, according to the Oceanside RCMP report cited by the outlet.
Gift cards are commonly used in scams because the value can be taken quickly once the card numbers or codes are shared. After that, the money is often difficult to recover.
Police Do Not Need Gift Cards to Run an Investigation
Police do not ask residents to buy gift cards to catch criminals, verify an account, pay a fine, clear a warrant, or assist with an investigation.
The RCMP warns that if someone claims to be from a government agency or bank and asks for unusual payment methods, it is a scam. The agency advises people who are unsure to hang up and call the agency directly through a listed phone number.
That check should happen outside the call. A caller’s badge number, callback number, payment instructions, or claim of a secret investigation should not be treated as proof.
The First Call Should Be to the Card Company
Anyone who already bought gift cards for a caller should keep the cards, receipts, packaging, messages, phone numbers, and any call details.
The next step is to contact the gift card company immediately and ask whether the balance can be frozen or recovered. The faster the card issuer is contacted, the better the chance of stopping the value before it is used.
Fraud can also be reported to local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The Government of Canada says scams should be reported to the CAFC even if the person did not lose money.