NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH POLICE SERVICE
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On March 16, 2020, an adult female received a phone call from a number identifying as Service Canada. The male caller informed her that her Social Insurance Number (SIN) had been compromised, and that there were allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering using her SIN and bank account. He then told her that he would speak with local police and give them the details.
She then received a phone call from a number identifying as Kitchener RCMP. The male caller identified himself as a police officer, stated that he knew she was the victim and she should do whatever the male from Service Canada was asking her to do.
She was told that in order to rectify the situation she would need to drain her bank account and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine inside a store located near the intersection of Gordon Street and Wellington Street East in the City Of Guelph. She then withdrew all $9,500 from her bank account and deposited the money into the Bitcoin machine.
An employee from the store told her she likely got scammed and she reported the incident to the Guelph Police Service.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Constable Rebecca Stanley at 519-824-1212 ext. 7371, email her at [email protected], leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online.
The Guelph Police Service would like to remind the public to be very cautious whenever you are contacted by a stranger and that Service Canada or any police service will never contact a member of the public to purchase Bitcoin, gift cards or send money.
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