How do I...
If the crime you are reporting is an emergency, call 9-1-1.
If the crime you are reporting is not an emergency, you can call the non-emergency line at 604-525-5411 or attend our Front Counter at 555 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC.
New Westminster – On February 8th an officer responded to a call for help from a senior. The senior shared that they had been the victim of an elaborate and professional scam. The senior received a phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer, who advised that their grandchild had been arrested and needed a large sum of money for bail. The fraudster, posing as a police officer, assured the senior that if they put cash in an envelope someone would meet them outside their residence to pick it up and their grandchild would be released from jail.
A suspect met the senior outside their residence to collect the cash. This suspect was described as a man in his thirties, standing approximately 6’3” tall with a medium build, and shoulder length black braids pulled back into a ponytail. This suspect was wearing a surgical mask, and identified himself to the victim as a Court Courier.
“We’re asking everyone to take a close look at this suspect and if you have any information about them to please contact the New Westminster Police Department,” said Media Relations Officer Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “We’re also asking people to speak to friends and family about this incident, and to share with them the techniques the fraudsters used. Knowledge is power and we need more people to know about the scams to prevent them from happening again.”
Officers are collecting evidence in an attempt to identify the suspect who met with the victim to collect the money. If the suspect description sounds like someone you know, please reach out to the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411 and reference file 23-2102.
A video of the suspect can be viewed on YouTube.
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CONTACT PERSON: Hailey Finnigan
EMAIL: communications@nwpolice.org
FILE: 23-2102
