Nanaimo RCMP warn residents after $24,000 lost in bank impersonation scam

Police in Nanaimo are urging residents to remain cautious after a local resident lost about $24,000 in a fraud scheme involving suspects posing as bank officials. The Nanaimo RCMP say the victim believed they were communicating with representatives from the Royal Bank of Canada after receiving multiple phone calls and text messages that appeared to come from an official bank number.

According to investigators, some of the messages included security verification codes. The victim, thinking the communication was legitimate, shared personal details with the caller. Police say that information was then used to access the victim’s accounts and carry out unauthorized transactions.

Mounties have determined the fraudulent activity appears to have originated from an IP address in another community. Officers are working with authorities in that jurisdiction as part of the ongoing investigation.

In a statement to police, RBC confirmed it does not ask customers to share verification codes by phone, text message or email. RCMP say the case highlights the growing use of call spoofing, a tactic that allows scammers to manipulate caller ID systems to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate.

R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP said residents should not rely solely on caller ID to verify a caller’s identity. He advised anyone who receives a suspicious call requesting sensitive information or verification codes to hang up and contact their financial institution directly using the number listed on the back of their bank card or the official website.

Police say similar scams have been reported across British Columbia in recent months, and they encourage anyone who suspects fraud to report it to their local police and the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre.