ChainCatcher report: A resident of Nanaimo, Canada, was scammed last year after receiving a text message promoting a remote job in stock trading. The victim deposited approximately CAD 5,000 (about USD 3,600) via a cryptocurrency ATM. Earlier this year, the victim encountered an online message disguised as an RCMP announcement, encouraging fraud victims to file reports. After submitting the form, a person claiming to be a lawyer called, stating that two cryptocurrency accounts linked to the victim had been identified and offering to help recover approximately USD 60,000 in alleged profits. Gary O'Brien, Media Relations Officer for Nanaimo RCMP, emphasized that the RCMP never contacts individuals regarding discovered cryptocurrency accounts, does not partner with private companies to recover lost funds, and never requests any form of payment to investigate fraud. Andy Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of blockchain security firm BlockSec, stated that this tactic is known as a “fake recovery service scam” and is highly systematic. Scammers typically possess personal information collected during the original fraud; organized criminal groups circulate lists of victims who have already been defrauded, making them targets for secondary scams. The use of law enforcement branding is effective because it exploits the psychological mechanism of “authority bias.” Canadian police have been providing cryptocurrency investigation training since 2022.
Canadian residents targeted in crypto scam involving impersonation of the RCMP
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Summary
A Canadian resident in Nanaimo lost CAD 5,000 (USD 3,600) to a crypto scam after using a crypto ATM following a stock promotion. The victim later received a fake RCMP notice online, prompting a call from a self-proclaimed lawyer offering to recover USD 60,000 from linked accounts. The RCMP emphasized that it does not contact victims or collaborate with private firms for recovery. BlockSec CEO Andy Zhou labeled it a "false recovery service scam," noting that fraud groups exploit victim data from prior scams. Impersonating the RCMP preys on authority bias. Canadian police have been trained in crypto investigations since 2022. As MiCA and CFT regulations evolve, such scams underscore the need for global enforcement cooperation.
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