Williams Lake RCMP are warning residents of scammers after receiving two separate reports of fraud.
In each case, the victims were contacted online by a company called “High Growth Video Media” and were told they could make a lot of money.
Corporal Madonna Saunderson says thousands of dollars was lost from the scam.
“Unfortunately the victims bought into that and gave money which was converted into cryptocurrency, and unfortunately the money is now gone and likely not able to be retrieved.” says Saunderson.
“We just want people to be aware of what’s out there, what can happen, especially when you’re conducting financial transactions.”
Some tips to prevent being scammed include:
- Know who you’re dealing with
- Don’t give out information on unsolicited calls
- Don’t give out personal information
- Don’t be afraid to say no
- Beware of upfront fees
- Protect your computer
- Be careful who you share images with
- Protect your online accounts
If you encounter this, or any other type of suspected scam, Saunderson says to report it to local police.
She says quite often, people do fall victim to various types of fraud and scams either over the phone or online.
More information on fraud protection, and how to report it, can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website here.
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