Fraudsters in Nanaimo are exploiting phone calls and social media with increasingly sophisticated schemes, prompting police to warn residents to stay skeptical and informed to better protect themselves.

The Nanaimo RCMP released information on four incidents recently involving fraud.

Ret. Const. Garry O’Brien said social media surveys are designed to draw in individuals and extract personal information from the user.

“No legitimate company, lotto or organization will ever ask you to purchase gift cards,” he stated in a release.

Grandson scam

A caller told police she was scammed for $1,700 after being led to believe her grandson needed money to get out of jail. The individual said in September, she received a phone call from a private number who said they were the RCMP and that her gra

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