Scammers continue to target New Brunswick residents

October 8, 2020
Fredericton, New Brunswick

News release

The New Brunswick RCMP is asking the public to be wary of scammers and fraudulent activity, after a number of reports of people around the province being scammed.

The RCMP has seen a recent increase in reports of scammers calling and identifying themselves as a representative of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The individual will proceed to advise the person of a warrant for their arrest and ask the person to go out and purchase iTunes, Google Play, or other prepaid gift cards and to provide the verification codes to the scammer to avoid legal consequences. Many have complied.

The RCMP has also received reports of scammers claiming to be a member of the RCMP, or asking the individual to withdraw large sums of money from their bank account.

"These scams continue to circulate in our province, and it's important that people talk to their family and friends and warn them about these callers," says Cst. Hans Ouellette, of the New Brunswick RCMP. "No government agency, legitimate business or financial institution would threaten clients, ask them to withdraw large sums of money, or ask them to pay using iTunes or Google Play cards, gift cards, or crypto currency."

What to do:

  • If you receive one of these calls, do not provide confidential personal or financial information over the phone or online.
  • Instead, call the company or institution in question using a phone number from a reputable source – not one provided by the suspected fraudster – so you can verify whether the request is real and what you need to do.
  • If you believe a fraudster is calling you, hang up the phone immediately. It's not rude, and could help protect you. Report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

When to call police:

  • If you have been a victim of fraud, contact your local police and your financial institution.
  • If you have not been defrauded, there is no need to call the police.

For further information on the types of frauds and scams that are currently circulating, and on how to best protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website.

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Contact information

Cst. Hans Ouellette
Media Relations Officer
New Brunswick RCMP
506-452-4252

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