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Police issue warning after man loses $6,000 in phone scam

Victoria police are warning people never to provide financial information over the phone after a man lost $6,000 in a scam.
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Victoria police are warning people never to provide financial information over the phone after a man lost $6,000 in a scam.

Police said the man received a phone call from a man and a woman who claimed to be members of his bank’s “fraud sting team” and said that his accounts had been compromised.

The man was invited to participate in an undercover operation to catch the person responsible for compromising his accounts. The fraudsters directed the man to purchase a number of $100 gift cards at various retailers, then asked for the gift card information and PINs, which he provided. He was told he could visit his main bank branch to be reimbursed.

Police say the scam is an example of the kinds of deception used by telephone scammers.

Anyone who realizes they have been a victim of a scam should contact their financial institutions immediately to inform them of the fraud and stop any unauthorized payments. They should also call their local police department.

Anyone who received such a call but didn’t give away financial information or lose any money is encouraged to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

More information on how to avoid falling victim to scams is available on the Victoria Police Department’s website at vicpd.ca/fraud.