Nanaimo men lose thousands to bitcoin scams in one day: RCMP

Bitcoin branding. Photographer: Lam Yik/Bloomberg (Lam Yik/Bloomberg)

Mounties in Nanaimo are warning the public to exercise caution after two residents lost about $17,000 combined to bitcoin scams in a single day.

The Nanaimo RCMP recounted the scams that were reported Wednesday in a Friday news release in hopes others won’t fall for the same frauds.

In one scam, according to the detachment, a resident reported receiving a phone call from a man with a “strong South Asian accent” identifying as a police officer.

“This person told the victim that the victim’s identity had been compromised and in order to protect his money, he needed to send a percentage of his assets to the suspect for safekeeping,” the release reads.

The suspect directed the victim to a bitcoin ATM in Woodgrove Centre, where he deposited $13,000, police said.

“Only after sending the money, did the victim realize that he may have been scammed,” Mounties said.

Wednesday’s second victim reportedly told police he received an email from “US Digital Cellular” telling him he was eligible for a $849 refund.

Upon calling the phone number provided to get the money, the man was told to complete a questionnaire, and once he submitted it, the alleged scammer told him there was an error and the company accidentally sent him $4,800.

The fraudster asked the victim to send the excess money back in bitcoin, which he did, police said.

“After sending the money the victim figured out that he had been scammed,” the release reads. “He also admitted to feeling ashamed but wanted to share his experience with others so they may not make the same mistakes he did.”

The Nanaimo RCMP cautioned to never open or respond to links from unfamiliar people or companies, and to automatically consider anyone asking for payments in bitcoin to be a scammer.

More information about cryptocurrency scams can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.