Members of the Lethbridge Police Service’s Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) are warning the public to be cautious after a sharp increase in gift card related scams this year.
Lethbridge residents have reported more than $500,000 in loss so far this year to all the different types of scams, with an additional $50,000 lost in cryptocurrency, according to police.
The ECU says it’s received half a dozen reports recently from Lethbridge residents who were instructed to buy gift cards as part of a scam. All ages have been targeted, with a focus on seniors. A recent example involves a scam where the target took an online job and was instructed to purchase gift cards and forward them to another recipient. The electronic payment the ‘employer’ sent them for reimbursement ended up being fraudulent and the victim was out the money used to buy the gift cards.
People running the scams usually pose as government officials or representatives of banks and other businesses, before instructing the target to buy gift cards or cryptocurrency, according to police.
Another type of scam being reported lately is one designed to gain remote access to the victim’s computers and other electronic devices, and often in turn, their bank accounts and other personal information. This could be through an unsolicited email sent to the target about a virus detected in their computer with the repair company offering to remedy the problem if provided passwords and usernames.
“The scammers often use sophisticated email templates to make themselves seem legitimate and may include links designed to collect personal information and passwords. Phone numbers may be supplied for the target to call and verify the authenticity of the sender, but that contact information has been ‘spoofed’ to make it appear as if it’s coming from a legitimate business or institution,” reads a news release from LPS.
The ECU says government agencies like the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, police or border services will never ask for your financial information or for you to pay for anything with gift cards or cryptocurrency. If contacted by someone claiming to be from a government agency, they will already have your contact information. Scammers will have targets identify themselves as a means to get valuable information that they can later use or sell. They also advise to never click on any external links in emails from unfamiliar senders, even those that look legitimate from businesses like Amazon, Canada Post or the CRA. Instead, go to the official website, using an application that is already installed, or visit the business in person to confirm whether or not there is an issue.