Salmon Arm RCMP are receiving an “extremely high call volume” of fraud incidents, with several reported in January.
Most recently, on Jan. 29, a woman reported losing $620 through a transaction on Facebook Marketplace.
“The woman reported she had arranged to purchase a bedroom furniture set over Facebook Marketplace and had e-transferred the seller $620,” said Const. Andrew Hodges in a Feb. 7 media release. “After sending the e-transfer, the seller stopped responding to all attempts to contact them.”
Hodges advised against sending e-transfers or money transfers to anyone you do not know, adding once an e-transfer is accepted by the recipient, it cannot be reversed.
Staff Sgt. Scott West said there has also been upsurge in scam calls to grandparents or other loved ones claiming that a family member is in jail and needs bail money, and asking that people send gift cards, credit card information or money transfers.
“Do not pay, it is a fraud no matter how convincing. Bail can only be paid to the police… or at the courthouse in person,” West said in a media release, and strongly advised not to give any money and “hang up right away.”
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