Comox Valley RCMP are issuing a scam warning after a local senior lost a large sum of money.
According to police, the victim was a woman in her 70s who reported getting a phone call from someone claiming to be with her bank, claiming her identity had been stolen and her accounts were compromised.
The scammer instructed her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM at a local business claiming it was a secure way to protect her funds.
Police say the woman followed the instructions and deposited $1,300 into the machine when a store employee sensed something wasn’t right and called the police.
An officer attended the scene and stopped the woman from depositing the remaining $3,700 she had with her.
The victim in a statement said it felt real as the scammer knew personal details and made her believe her money wasn’t safe.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through this. If someone tells you to use a Bitcoin machine to fix a problem, it’s a scam.”
Cst. Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP said they’re thankful the employees trusted their instincts and contacted them.
“This type of scam is designed to create fear and urgency. If you’re ever unsure, stop and talk to someone you trust or call police directly.”
The money will likely not be able to be recovered, RCMP said as Bitcoin ATMs are not like a traditional financial transaction and are difficult to trace.
To protect yourself from these types of scams, RCMP said no banks, police, or government agencies will ask you to deposit money into a cryptocurrency machine.
They add scammers will often claim your identity was stolen, or your accounts are at risk of creating urgency, and if something doesn’t feel right, you should hang up and contact the police or a trusted number.
