Two Royal City seniors are out significant amounts of cash after falling victim to scammers recently.
According to New Westminster police, two seniors reported being defrauded an undisclosed amount of money during two separate incidents on June 19.
In the first incident, the victim received a phone call from a man claiming to be his son. The “son” told the victim he needed money to cover damages following an accident in Victoria after a rock concert. The man on the phone told the victim he would send one of his friends to collect the money for him, to which the victim agreed and proceeded to withdraw cash from a local bank in Uptown, stated a press release from the New Westminster police.
The victim then met the friend nearby and gave him the money. It wasn’t until later that day that the victim learned the person who had called earlier was not in fact his son, after speaking with his actual son who told him he hadn’t called asking for money, the release added.
The suspect in this incident is described as South Asian, about 35 years old and 5’8” tall. He was wearing a maroon shirt and tinted prescription sunglasses. Surveillance footage in the area has been requested, according to the release.
In the second incident, the victim told police she had received a phone call from a man claiming to be her grandson. The caller explained he needed money to pay for damages incurred during “a car crash that he had caused driving while impaired in Victoria,” the release stated.
The victim agreed to meet with one of her “grandson’s” friends who would then take the money to him. The victim met with the friend, who said his name was Brian, outside her home in New Westminster.
Brian is described as a black man, about 25 years old and 6’2” to 6’4” tall. He was seen wearing a black leather jacket with pockets that snapped shut, black dress pants, black shoes and jewelry.
The following day, the victim contacted her grandson who told her he hadn’t called asking for money, the release added.
Sgt. Diana McDaniel, spokesperson for the New Westminster Police Department, is asking anyone who receives or has received a similar phone call to contact the police department immediately to report the incident.
“We urge seniors to verify the identity of people claiming to be their relative over the telephone and asking them for money,” Sgt. Diana McDaniel said in the release. “If you receive a call like this, and are unsure what to do, please call the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411 and report the incident.”
New Westminster police are asking anyone with information regarding these two incidents to contact Const. Janet Beeson or Const. Shannon McLeod at 604-525-5411 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
