A pair of Winnipeg police officers and a retail worker are being credited with preventing a senior citizen from being scammed out of $1,000 and banking information.
On Friday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) says the retail worker told a pair of foot patrol officers that she was trying to stop an elderly woman from turning over $1,000 in Google Play cards she had just bought to a suspected phone scammer.
The older woman was nearby and gave the phone to one of the officers, who realized the suspect was still on the line.
The officer identified himself and told the person the fraud was going no further, to which the suspect allegedly replied:
“I don’t care who you are; this transaction is between her and me. Put her back on the phone.”
The person hung up a short time later.
Police say the senior had been told to turn over banking information, PINs, and $1,000 in Google Play cards to avoid arrest over a bogus tax matter.
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The officers and the victim went to her bank and were able to have her accounts frozen and passwords changed. None of her accounts are believed to be compromised, and Google Play refunded the purchase.
Fraud Prevention Month
The WPS says it will be focusing on combating extortion scams — through both enforcement and education — during March.
Manitobans lost over $4.4 million through mass market scams in 2020, according to the WPS, nearly half of which was through extortion.
The force is promoting an educational video on this type of scam which can be found here.
The WPS is also taking part in a series of virtual events happening throughout March:
- The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s Canada-Wide Fraud Prevention Month Launch. Happening March 2 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Manitoba-specific information presented at 1:00 p.m.)
- Facebook Live Event: Protect Yourself from Scams. Happening March 10 at 6:00 p.m.
- Available on Facebook.
- Facebook Live Event: MoneySmart Manitoba’s Protecting Your Family from Fraud. Happening March 18 from noon to 1:00 p.m.
- Available on Facebook.
- Facebook Live Event: Fighting Fraud: Advice for Individuals New to Canada. Happening March 23, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
- Available on Facebook.
Those who are or know a victim of an extortion scam, are encouraged to contact both the WPS and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to file a report.
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