The Courtenay RCMP is warning the public after a local senior lost $1,300 to a cryptocurrency scam and was minutes away from losing thousands more before a concerned store employee called police.
The victim, a woman in her 70s, reported that she received a phone call from someone claiming to be from her bank. The caller said her identity had been stolen and her accounts were compromised. He instructed her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM at a local business, claiming it was a secure way to “protect” her funds.
The woman followed the instructions and had already deposited $1,300 into the machine when the store employee, sensing something wasn’t right, called the RCMP. An officer attended immediately and spoke with the woman while she was still at the ATM, stopping her from depositing the remaining $3,700 she had with her.
“We’re thankful the employee trusted their instincts and called us,” said Cst. Monika Terragni, Media Relations Officer, Comox Valley RCMP. “This type of scam is designed to create fear and urgency. If you’re ever unsure, stop and talk to someone you trust or call police directly.”
The victim has chosen to speak out to help protect others from falling victim to similar frauds.
“It felt real. The scammer knew personal details and made me believe my money wasn’t safe,” she said. I don’t want anyone else to go through this. If someone tells you to use a Bitcoin machine to fix a problem, it’s a scam.”
The investigation is ongoing, and police are following up on leads.
Unfortunately, money sent through Bitcoin ATMs is not like a traditional financial transaction – it is difficult to trace and nearly impossible to recover.
To help protect yourself from these types of scams:
• No bank, police, or government agency will ever ask you to deposit money into a cryptocurrency machine.
• Scammers often create urgency by claiming your identity was stolen or your accounts are at risk.
• If something doesn’t feel right, hang up and contact your bank or police using a trusted number.
Don’t believe anyone who tells you to use a Bitcoin ATM to protect your money or fix a problem.
For more information on frauds and scams throughout Canada, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: .
