The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are issuing a stark warning after a sophisticated scam left a British Columbia woman significantly out of pocket. A 68-year-old resident of Mission, BC, recently reported losing a staggering $60,000 due to a fraudulent scheme.

According to an RCMP news release dated June 23rd, the incident unfolded on May 20th. The victim received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a representative from her bank. This individual informed her that her bank cards had been compromised and that the bank would be issuing replacements. To facilitate the process, the caller stated that a courier would be dispatched to collect her existing cards.

Believing the caller’s story to be legitimate, the woman handed over her bank cards to the courier who arrived at her home. It was only later that she realized she had fallen victim to an elaborate scam, resulting in the substantial financial loss.

The RCMP are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when dealing with unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to represent financial institutions. They emphasize the importance of verifying the identity of anyone requesting personal or financial information. Never provide bank card details or allow strangers access to your cards without independent verification through official channels.

This incident serves as a critical reminder of the need for vigilance against increasingly sophisticated scams targeting vulnerable individuals. If you receive a suspicious call, contact your bank directly using the official phone number found on their website or your bank statement, not the number provided by the caller.