A senior was saved from losing money to a crypto scam thanks to quick action by a convenience store owner in White Rock.
An older gentleman walked into the Red Rooster Food Store while on the phone on Tuesday (June 5), as he walked over to the Bitcoin machine in the back of the shop.
害羞草研究所淗e didn害羞草研究所檛 know what to do so I asked him 害羞草研究所業s there anything I can help you with?害羞草研究所� and he害羞草研究所檚 on the phone with another gentleman. He害羞草研究所檚 directing him, but he had no idea what to do,害羞草研究所� store owner Priya Badesha shared with Peace Arch News.
She walked over to the man to ask if he needed help, to which he replied 害羞草研究所測es.害羞草研究所� For Badesha, the signs were clear that this situation was likely one of an unknowing individual, possibly a scam.
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害羞草研究所淚 said, 害羞草研究所楽ir, a lot of people get scammed, so do you know who you害羞草研究所檙e sending the money to?害羞草研究所� And the guy on the phone goes 害羞草研究所楾ell her I害羞草研究所檓 your financial advisor害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克 it didn害羞草研究所檛 seem like it was legit,害羞草研究所� Badesha recalled, adding that the phone was not on speaker but the volume was loud enough that she could decipher the words on the other line.
害羞草研究所淚 explained to him that a lot of people get scammed if you don害羞草研究所檛 know what you害羞草研究所檙e doing. He had a print-out of the ID scan you need to put the money in, so he didn害羞草研究所檛 have the digital wallet either. It looks like they emailed it to him or something so he printed it out to scan it, but he had no clue what to do.
害羞草研究所淗e didn害羞草研究所檛 know how the (machine) works, he didn害羞草研究所檛 know to put his phone number in to get a confirmation back, so at that point, I automatically knew. I told him, 害羞草研究所業 can help, but I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 a good idea to put the money in,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 but he did not seem receptive, she added.
The store owner went back to register and called the non-emergency police line as the situation still did not feel right to her. She then pretended to do other tasks as the man was waiting for her help until police arrived.
害羞草研究所淭he gentleman on the phone hung up immediately after the officer asked 害羞草研究所楧o you want to hand over the phone and I can talk to him,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Badesha said.
Const. Chantal Sears from White Rock RCMP said the man was contacted through email by scammers claiming they were from Microsoft. The individuals convinced the man that his email account was 害羞草研究所渃ompromised害羞草研究所� and Microsoft needed a sum of money sent through Bitcoin to help the investigation, Sears added.
害羞草研究所淲e want to remind the public, especially seniors who are preyed upon by these heartless criminals, to hang up and slow down. The scammers will try and confuse you with a sense of urgency for having to withdraw your money. If you have been told you are helping us or the bank with an investigation, that is not true.害羞草研究所�
The individual from Tuesday was saved from 害羞草研究所渓osing his savings.害羞草研究所�
Badesha said this incident was not the first time a senior has come into the shop to use the Bitcoin machine, frantic while on a call.
A few weeks back, another senior man was getting frustrated at the machine as a voice on the other end of the line was explaining how to operate the machine. She approached the man and, again, informed him of potential scams that target seniors.
害羞草研究所淭he guy on the phone heard me say that. He told the guy to leave the store immediately. He said, 害羞草研究所業 don害羞草研究所檛 want you there for another second, I don害羞草研究所檛 want you talking to this girl, just get out, leave.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
害羞草研究所淚 tried to stop him, like 害羞草研究所楽ir, think about it. I害羞草研究所檓 not getting anything out of it, but this guy is taking your money so you (should) reconsider. Don害羞草研究所檛 go anywhere,害羞草研究所� but the thing is, they just don害羞草研究所檛 let you put the phone down.害羞草研究所�
As the Bitcoin machine has been in the store for quite some time, Badesha said she and the staff have become informed on signs to look for in the case of a potential scam.
害羞草研究所淵ou can just tell by their body language. A lot of people do use the machine and do understand what Bitcoin is, but personally, I don害羞草研究所檛 believe in Bitcoin and I would never buy it myself, but I害羞草研究所檓 always looking out for the elderly,害羞草研究所� she stressed.
害羞草研究所淭hey usually come in while on the phone and try to operate it with one hand, so they get really frustrated. I try to help, but I害羞草研究所檓 conflicted because I don害羞草研究所檛 want to help. If you don害羞草研究所檛 know what you害羞草研究所檙e doing, you害羞草研究所檙e obviously getting scammed.害羞草研究所�
Badesha hopes that this incident would encourage everyone to become informed on signs of a potential scam, especially for families to educate seniors and others who may be more susceptible.
害羞草研究所淲e encourage the public to call us for any suspicious activity. We would rather be called, attend and determine the situation is legitimate as opposed to not being called. If your intuition is telling you something is not right, please call us,害羞草研究所� Sears said.
White Rock RCMP also encourage the city's older adults to become members of Kent Street Activity Centre's Seniors Computer Club, by calling 604-541-2231.
