If someone claiming to be from a bank asks you to buy gift cards to help with an investigation, it’s a scam.
According to the RCMP, that’s what happened to a senior couple in the Comox Valley last month.
The scammer convinced them to buy gift cards for Google Play and Sephora and call them back with the card numbers and PIN numbers.
The couple was told that someone at the store would be in on the scam, to act natural, and not to call the police due to corruption.
The card numbers and PIN numbers allow the scammer to use the money on the gift cards.
The RCMP says typically, this money is used online for payment in other criminal transactions.
If you’re ever asked to purchase a gift card as a method of payment, it should be a clue that you might be getting involved in a scam.
For more information about current scams, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
