Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Nov. 21 to 28:
Aggressive scammer
• On Nov. 23, a Sunshine Coast resident almost fell victim to the long-standing, popular Canada Revenue Agency scam after receiving a phone call that showed up on her call display as being from the Sunshine Coast RCMP non-emergency number of 604-885-2266. Please note that the Sunshine Coast RCMP telephone number does NOT appear on call display; calls from this office will appear as Private Number. The scammer was “spoofing” the RCMP number.
The extremely aggressive scammer said he was with the law enforcement branch of the CRA and that the resident owed back taxes. The scammer then went on to say that they would come arrest her and freeze all of her bank accounts but that she could fix the problem if she purchased enough iTunes gift cards to cover the money she “owed.” The scammer then insisted on staying on the line while the resident went to buy the iTunes cards, telling her if she hung up, that would make her arrestable.
The resident did as she was told, but as she began to give the access codes to the scammer, grew suspicious and stalled the scammer while she attended the local RCMP office in Sechelt. There, one of the staff took her phone and spoke with the scammer, who pretended to be a constable with the RCMP. When the RCMP staff member challenged the scammer on his claim, the scammer grew verbally abusive, telling the RCMP staff member to look at the call display, that the RCMP number was on display there. After exchanging a few more words, the RCMP staff member hung up.
As the access codes were not given out, the resident did not lose her money to them.
To learn more about spoofing, this and other common scams, visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
Theft
• Sometime overnight on Nov. 24, a thief stole a Mercury outboard five-horsepower motor that had been secured by cable lock to a boat stored on the beach in the 6300 block of Gale Avenue North, Sechelt. The excellent condition motor is a 2005 Mercury, Model 1F05201DK with serial number 0R055851. Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 17-7880.
• Early on Nov. 21 in the 8900 hundred block of Redrooffs Road, Halfmoon Bay, a thief stole a heavy-duty 20-amp extension cord that connected to the Halfmoon Bay Fire Hall and was being used to light up a road sign. Security cameras caught a pony-tailed suspect wearing a headlamp stealing the cord, which is described as black with yellow plugs on either end, and approximately 250 feet long. Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 17-7835. The file is still under investigation.
• Sometime between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 25, a thief stole a large inflatable snow globe decoration from a property in the 700 block of Maplewood Lane, Gibsons, along with the yellow rope and red stakes that were used to secure it to the ground. The decoration, which stands over five feet tall when inflated, lights up and has three rotating figures inside – a Santa, a reindeer and a snowman, and the words Happy Holidays on the base.
• Over the past month, with the latest incident occurring overnight on Nov. 27, a thief has been stealing diesel fuel from tanks stored in the 2000 block of Field Road, Wilson Creek. In the past, the thief has cut locks to gain access to the fuel and in one instance, left off a fuel cap, allowing water into the tank.
Found Property
• On Nov. 24, a found cell phone was dropped off at the RCMP office in Gibsons. The phone was found near Chaster Road and Knight Road, Gibsons and has some damage.
Owner may claim with detailed description within 90 days, reference police file 2017-7874.
• On Nov. 24, a Coast resident found some foreign currency on the Sunshine Coast Highway near Roberts Creek Road, Roberts Creek. Owner may claim within 90 days with a detailed description, reference file 17-7884.
Break and Enter
• Sometime between Nov. 13 and 24, a thief gained entry to a residence in the 600 block of Seaview Road, Gibsons, by prying loose and removing a window. Once inside, the thief appears to have gone through the entire house and using a pillow case to carry it away, stole women’s jewelry, men’s watches, an Olympus digital camera, a Kodak video, and external hard drive, and a large amount of U.S. cash.
Anyone with any information about this break and enter is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 2017-7885.
• Overnight on Nov. 25, a thief stole tools from a carport in the 5400 block of Mills Road, Sechelt. The stolen items include a Makita skill saw, two Makita cordless drills, an apron, hammer, measuring tape, nail puller and a chisel.
Impaired Driving
• On Nov. 25, police attended a possible impaired driver complaint on Pratt Road near Grandview Road, Gibsons, after a spun-out vehicle was reported stuck on a curb. The driver, who advised he’d lost control of his vehicle on a corner, was noted to be exhibiting signs of intoxication and was given a roadside alcohol screening test.
After two “fails,” the driver was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
– Sunshine Coast RCMP
