Scammers accuse victims of seeking escort service, demand money: Halifax police – Halifax | 24CA News
Halifax Regional Police are warning residents of a brand new rip-off circulating within the area, through which scammers declare to be members of a “cartel” and threaten to hurt victims.
In a launch, police stated extortion scammers will name or textual content victims and accuse them of contacting an escort service as a method to intimidate the sufferer into giving cash.
The scammers will demand fee, and ship “graphic photos depicting violence,” whereas threatening to hurt a sufferer or their family members, police stated.
“Police believe the scammers are randomly contacting people and the people targeted have not necessarily contacted an escort service,” learn the discharge.
Police say the rip-off has circulated in different elements of Canada, and is an try and strain individuals into giving cash.
They advise Nova Scotians to not reply to those scams, and never present cash or private data.
“Police also recommend you block the number and avoid opening unsolicited text messages from unfamiliar numbers,” they stated.
Scams have been on the rise within the province prior to now 12 months.
Earlier this month, the RCMP reported Nova Scotians misplaced a record-breaking $3.6 million to scammers in 2022, up from $2.5 million the earlier 12 months.
As March is Fraud Prevention Month, the RCMP warned residents to be alert to rip-off exercise, which will be “rampant” and “devastatingly costly.”
— With recordsdata from Alex Cooke.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
