Scam artists are, if nothing else, creative.
Nanaimo Mounties are warning the public of at least eight scams trolling for victims.
The latest is the Apple iTunes scam that took a local man, according to police, for $9,000.
According to police, the iTunes fraud involves an e-mail detailing charges, that "iTunes" suggests could be fraudulent, made to a victim's account. In order to cancel the charges the victim is asked to enter his credit card number and three digit security code, allowing the fraudster access to the credit card account.
. @NanaimoRCMP issue media advisory regarding Apple iTunes scam, once again warning not to divulge personal information.
— Vancouver Island REB (@VIREB) November 27, 2015
The victim in the Nanaimo incident was alerted by his bank that $9,000 was being withdrawn from his credit account and his card was cancelled.
Police did not provide the News Bulletin with any information about the victim.
Other scams currently circulating include those, which have been ongoing for reveal months or even years, such as the Grandson Scam and Canada Revenue Agency scam, lottery scams, online dating, Kijiji and Craiglist rental scam and the Korean Development Bank scam based on an individual's death, the victim's name has surfaced as a possible relative and the deceased has millions of dollars in a bank account that will default back to the government if left unclaimed.
Door-to-door repairmen scams are ongoing in which fraudsters target seniors' neighbourhoods, offer to do services such as carpet cleaning or window washing or roof repair or furnace maintenance and ask for half of the service fee up front as a deposit, then leave and never return.
"These are just some of the more common scams and frauds being carried out through Nanaimo and other communities," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release. "Don't fall for them. If you have a computer, use a Google search to research it.
"Don’t hesitate to call your local police and lastly talk to your neighbours and friends so they don’t fall prey.”
For information on current frauds, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.