Police urge residents to beware of scammers

Recently discovering an elaborate scamming scheme in the city, Gatineau Police (SPVG) has issued a warning to residents regarding the presence of fraudulent bank advisors and imposters posing as Canada Post mail carriers. According to a press release issued by the SPVG on March 12, police have become aware of various scams operating with similar methodology in the city – notably involving people contacting victims by phone and posing as an employee in the fraudulence department of a known banking institution.

The person typically informs victims that the bank has noticed fraudulent activity on their bank account or credit card and to immediately give their cards to someone who would go to their home. An accomplice, who poses as a Canada Post employee or a colleague from the same financial institution as the caller, then arrives at the home to pick them up. Certain victims either hand the cards directly to the accomplice, or place them in a closed envelope in their mailbox – which the perpetrators use for purchases or to withdraw money.

Targeting clients of different banking institutions, the police explained that the scammers have been shown to possess sufficient information about their victims to be able to make them feel like they’re dealing with trustworthy people with no intention of stealing their money.

As a safety tip, Police noted that banks never request clients to give back their credit or debit cards. Rather, they ask people to destroy them and they provide new ones either by mail or in person at a local branch. Pointing to the perpetrators’ audacity and dexterity in their scheme, the SPVG is said to have investigated a file involving a person posing as a Canada Post employee using a car that looked eerily similar to the company’s delivery vehicles.

Police say the scam has also been discovered in different parts of the province. For prevention purposes, the SPVG encourages people to be sceptical when receiving calls from unknown phone numbers or banking institutions.

When receiving a call from someone claiming to represent a bank and giving information about fraudulent activity, the SPVG advises people to hang up the phone and call the number on the back of their bank card to verify directly with their service provider. Emphasizing the importance of never providing personal data to callers with questionable identities, especially banking information, the SPVG also advised that people with concerns about local scammers also call their police station.