Comox Valley RCMP Warn Of Frauds And Scams

Comox Valley RCMP is warning the public about a growing scam targeting sellers on Facebook Marketplace, resulting in nearly $10,000 in reported losses since the beginning of the year.

Between January 7 and January 23rd, Comox Valley RCMP received multiple reports from individuals who believed they had received e-transfers for items they were selling online.

In reality, the transactions were fraudulent, leading to unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts. In some cases, scammers even altered victims’ personal banking details.

Victims have been receiving what appears to be an e-transfer but when they attempt to accept the payment, they unknowingly approve a withdrawal instead.

In some cases, scammers access the seller’s account and change personal information.

Police suggest verifying payments by always logging into your bank account separately to confirm an e-transfer is fully received before handing over an item.

Avoid clicking on email or text links to accept payments.

Instead, access your banking app or website directly.

It’s also a good idea to regularly check for unauthorized transactions or changes to your banking details.

For more information on merchandise scams, please see the fraud alert issued by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.