Sixteen charges have been laid against a 26-year-old man in relation to an alleged bank-card scam that bilked Burnaby seniors out of thousands of dollars last year.
Burnaby RCMP put out a news release last February, warning local residents about the scam, which had taken in two local seniors.
In each instance, police said the victims reported getting a call from someone saying they were from a bank and telling the victim their bank cards had been compromised, police said.
The caller told the victims they would send a bank staffer to their home to pick up the cards and investigate.
Almost immediately, a suspect arrived at their home in person.
In two cases, the victims gave up their cards and lost about $3,000 and $5,000, respectively, according to police.
In a third case, the suspect fled when the would-be victim told them they wanted to verify the information with their bank.
Police investigators linked the cases to several other reports, and the ensuing investigation has now led to 16 charges against 26-year-old Yeral Jauvin Varona, according to a Burnaby RCMP news release issued Thursday.
On Jan. 2, he was charged with six counts of identity theft, six counts of fraud under $5,000, one count of fraud over $5,000, two counts of identity fraud, and one count of disguising his face with intent.
Jauvin Varona has been released on strict court-ordered conditions.
"While we've moved this investigation to the court system, it is important to note that this type of scam is still occurring in the Lower Mainland," Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj said in the release. "We are asking the public to share this information in an effort to reduce the likelihood of more people becoming victims of fraud."
Tips to protect yourself
- Be wary of unsolicited calls, especially those requesting personal or financial information.
- If you receive a call claiming to be from your bank, ask for their internal reference or file number and call back using the number on your financial documents or their official website.
- Remove personal information from public platforms, such as social media and phone directories, that criminals may exploit.
- Never share your bank or credit card PIN with anyone.
- If you suspect your card has been compromised, contact your bank directly using the phone number listed on your card.
- Do not hand over your bank cards to anyone. Safely dispose of expired or compromised cards yourself.
- Replacement cards are never hand-delivered to your home. They are either mailed to you or sent to a local branch for pickup.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud, please report the incident to your local police of jurisdiction.
For more information, please visit Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on X/Twitter @CorNaylor
Email [email protected]
