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Sidney bank teller foils bogus-identity caper

The actions of an alert Sidney bank teller led to the arrest of an alleged con artist who had recently moved to B.C.

The actions of an alert Sidney bank teller led to the arrest of an alleged con artist who had recently moved to B.C.

The teller felt an Ontario driver’s licence being used by a man trying to obtain a new debit card looked suspicious, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP spokesman Cpl. Doug Wilson said.

The man claimed the account was for an Ontario branch of the bank, but a call to the actual account holder in Ontario confirmed that the man’s claims were fraudulent.

Called to the scene, officers arrested the man and found several other sets of fraudulent ID, Wilson said.

The man had tried a similar fraud at a Victoria branch of the same bank that day, but fled before police could be called.

“The suspect had a long criminal history of similar offences in Ontario and had recently arrived in British Columbia to try his luck out here,” Wilson said.

The man has been charged with fraud under $5,000, possession of forged documents and possession of stolen identification. He is also facing charges in connection with the Victoria incident.

Having just arrived from Toronto, he was considered a flight risk and was remanded into custody until his next appearance in Victoria provincial court.

March is fraud prevention month. Police departments across the region are trying to raise awareness about costly scams.

At 7 this morning, Victoria police will hold a fraud-prevention open house at police headquarters, 850 Caledonia Ave.