Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Feb. 5 to 12:
• Between Feb. 1 and 5, a thief stole a boat motor off a boat stored in the 1100 block of Marine Drive in Gibsons. The stolen motor is a silver 2004 Honda five-horsepower four-stroke outboard engine. Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP at 604-885-2266 and reference file 13-734.
• RCMP are reminding the public to be vigilant about scams such as the Australian Lottery scam, which is hitting the Coast.
Typically, scammers phone (or send a letter or fax) to say you've won the (fill-in-the-blank) lottery and in order to process your winnings, they require some personal information. Then, if questioned, the scammer may give out a telephone number, encouraging you to call it to confirm the scammer is legitimate. This is a common ruse to gain your trust.
The RCMP encourages everyone to educate themselves on scams by going to www.phonebusters.com or the Better Business Bureau's website and other reputable sources to learn how to recognize a scam and not fall prey to one.
• A Coast resident reported falling for a job-scam after taking on a job as a personal assistant for a person she'd only "met" on-line. The job entailed the resident collecting cheques from various businesses across Canada and depositing them into her own bank account. She was then to keep a percentage for herself as payment and wire the rest to the Philippines. Fortunately, the first cheque the resident took to her bank was declared fraudulent, so the resident did not lose any money.
The resident was advised to report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (a.k.a. Phonebusters). This is a common type of "overpayment" scam.
• On Feb. 9, a vandal used red paint to damage a vehicle parked near Harvey Road and Fisher Road in Granthams Landing. The vehicle appears to have been damaged internally as well as the owner was unable to start the previously functioning engine.
• On Feb. 10, a hit-and-run occurred in a parking lot in the 5700 block of Wharf Road in Sechelt after a newer model cream coloured van backed out of a handicapped parking spot and struck and damaged another parked vehicle. Several people apparently tried to get the van driver to stop, but the driver fled the scene. Police are reviewing surveillance footage.
• On Feb. 11, a Coast resident fell victim to a possible scam, or unscrupulous business practice, after she received a phone call from a male purporting to be a computer repair and security expert. The male convinced the resident that her computer was infected with viruses that he could remove, and proceeded to guide the resident through a series of steps on her computer to allow him remote access to it. Police warn residents to be extremely suspicious of any similar type calls or solicitations.
• Between Feb. 9 and 11, a thief broke into a residence in the 700 block of Gower Point Road in Gibsons. The thief used tools to break the deadbolt in order to gain entry and stole a number of gold rings, a credit card, a pair of gold earrings, two pairs of pearl earrings and assorted bottles of alcohol.
— Submitted
