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COVID-19 scams fooling only a few people in Nanaimo

RCMP issue press release after alert from Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
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Scammers are continuing to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to try to defraud victims.

Nanaimo RCMP released an advisory Wednesday morning after being alerted by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to more reports of scams, only a few of which have fooled people locally.

Police say the scams are coming through social media, over e-mail and via text messages.

RCMP say companies are trying to sell fake COVID-19 testing kits and unproven drugs. As well, there have been reports that certain companies are claiming their duct cleaning services can protect people from the virus. There have also been scammers impersonating Public Health Agency of Canada officials to obtain person information and even credit card numbers.

“The Nanaimo RCMP have been received a number of calls daily from individuals, contacted by fraudsters who offer any one of the above noted scams,” noted Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in the release. “Very few of the callers to our detachment indicated that they were duped into providing compromising information.”

Police advised callers to report their interactions with scammers to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/.

READ ALSO: Police seize 1,500 fake COVID-19 tests being sold in B.C.

READ ALSO: RCMP, prime minister warn of text scam related to COVID-19 relief



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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