Police warn against frauds and scams

Type(s)
Police News

Since the beginning of September, the Fredericton Police Force has received several reports of concerning frauds and scams happening around the city. These are largely phone/internet-based scams and have led to the loss of over $185,000 in the past 7 weeks alone.

Nineteen files have resulted in financial loss to several complainants, with four files resulting in $155,000 in total losses alone, ranging from $19,000 to $61,000.

Of note, officers have taken multiple complaints of a scam where the caller claims to be with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), warning the victim that they have warrants for arrest. In order to avoid being taken into custody, the victim is directed to purchase bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. Scammers re-route calls using local telephone numbers, and false identifications of local police officers. More information about this specific scam can be found on the CBSA website.

Police have also been receiving reports of a variety of other frauds or scams, including:

Unfortunately, several reported frauds have come from students attending post-secondary institutions in the city. Scammers capitalize on those who may not be familiar with how government agencies communicate and who may have access to student loans or additional education funds.

Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to a scam.

  • Never give out personal information over the phone, unless you are confident of the source.
  • A real police officer would never ask to have money sent to anyone, and if you aren’t sure whether it’s a scam or not, give us a call.
  • If you receive suspicious telephone calls requesting money, please hang up and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through their online reporting tool.
  • If you have been a victim of fraud and have lost money, please report it to your local police.