RCMP report legal aid lawyer scam making the rounds
By Nelson Daily Staff
Nelson RCMP is warning the public about a new scam plaguing residents in the area.
Cst. Stathis Dimopoulos said local residents are receiving calls from unknown person(s) perpetrating to be legal aid lawyers acting on behalf of a family member.
“The caller advises that their family member (generic: son, daughter, niece, and or nephew) is being held in custody and that bail money is required to ensure they are released,” Cst. Dimopoulos explained.
“Amounts requested have ranged from $995 to $3000.”
Dimopoulos said the caller(s) express urgency and then direct the targeted victims to immediately wire the money using the services of Western Union.
“Police would like to warn local residents with respect to this scam,” he said. “Do not wire any money and be sure to follow up with family and police.”
Tips for Protection:
- never send money to anyone that you don’t know and trust
- if you receive a phone call from someone you do not know, always ask for the name of the person you are speaking to and who they represent. Verify this information by calling the company yourself
- if you sent money through a wire service, contact the wire service immediately. If you act quickly, they may be able to stop the transfer.
If the public spots a scam or have been targeted by a scam contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or on the web at www.antifraudcentre.ca
