Canadian Robbed of Crypto via ATM Kiosk, Recovery Efforts Lead to Another Scam Attempt
Canadian police warn that scammers are fraudulently using the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) logo in crypto recovery schemes targeting people who previously lost money in cryptocurrency fraud. In Nanaimo, British Columbia, a victim who lost $5,000 CAD in a crypto job scam was subsequently contacted by individuals impersonating RCMP and a lawyer, claiming they could help recover lost funds if the victim paid additional fees. Police stress that the RCMP does not contact individuals about recovered crypto accounts, partner with private firms to recover lost funds, or request payment to investigate fraud. These “fake recovery service scams” exploit victims’ trust in authority and often use information from prior scams to target victims repeatedly. Experts warn that criminals pose as lawyers, recovery agents, or law enforcement to add credibility and pressure victims into paying. Police urge the public to be wary of unsolicited job offers, recovery services, and any messages claiming official involvement in recovering crypto assets. Crypto-related fraud has increased, prompting Canadian law enforcement to expand training in digital asset investigations.
