Elderly victims have been scammed out of nearly $400,000 in what RCMP say is one of the most costly scams they have seen in Nanaimo.

Police issued a press release Thursday, March 3, notifying the public about the fake lottery scam. The fraud started early last year when the seniors, both in their late 80s, received a call from a scammer claiming to represent 害羞草研究所楻eaders Digest Sweepstakes Mega Millions害羞草研究所� and congratulating them on winning $18.5 million and a Mercedes-Benz.

害羞草研究所淪everal days later they received official-looking documents in the mail 害羞草研究所� [that] indicated they owed taxes on their winnings, and that they were directed to contact Mega Millions in order to arrange payment,害羞草研究所� the release noted.

The scammers remained in contact with the victims, directing regular payments via money orders to various addresses to pay taxes on their winnings and to cover the storage of the car they had won.

害羞草研究所淭he financial loss the couple experienced is significant and is certainly one of the largest we have seen in Nanaimo,害羞草研究所� said reserve Const. Gary O害羞草研究所橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in the release. 害羞草研究所淚t also goes to shows that if fraudsters believe they have convinced you of their legitimacy, they will not stop until essentially there is no more money to give or you figure out it is a scam.害羞草研究所�

Police recommend that people educate themselves on scams being perpetrated in Nanaimo and elsewhere. For more information, visit .

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