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Burnaby resident gets stung for $15,000 in bitcoin scam

The Burnaby RCMP says it has seen an increase in the number of scams involving the transfer of money via Bitcoin.
bitcoin
A website that identifies Bitcoin automated teller machines shows there are 63 in Metro Vancouver, including this one at Kingsgate Mall. Photo Dan Toulgoet

The Burnaby RCMP says it has seen an increase in the number of scams involving the transfer of money via Bitcoin.

What happens, according to police, is a suspect calls and advises the victim they have an arrest warrant because their SIN card was used at multiple Service Canada locations.

The suspect then calls back repeatedly from several different phone numbers and states that if they tell any family members, they will also be arrested.

“This scam recently cost a local resident nearly $15,000,” said a tweet from the Burnaby RCMP Twitter account.

Similar scams have involved suspects claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency and police are warning residents to not transfer Bitcoin to the people calling.

Instead, call the RCMP at 604-646-9999.