The 100 Mile House RCMP are reminding residents to be aware of fraud attempts after a complainant reported a scam attempting to convince them they had won $4.8 million.
Sgt. Brian Lamb said the incident was one of 139 calls for services the RCMP received between June 3 and 10. The fraud was reported to the RCMP on June 8.
Lamb said the complainant had been contacted by phone and advised they had won $4.8 million. The caller, whom Lamb said appeared to be from a legitimate business, had advised that to receive the payment, an "administrative payment" would be required from the complainant.
Personal information was also sought as part of the conversation. The complainant recognized this as an attempt at fraud and reported it.
Lamb said this is a typical example of the fraud reports they receive every week and want to remind residents to protect their personal information, not to provide financial transactions unless the source can be verified, and to remember if it seems too good to be true, like what happened in the incident, it usually is.
108 Mile Ranch man arrested over fraud allegations
An adult male has been arrested after multiple reports of fraud led to a search warrant.
Lamb said on June 5, 100 Mile RCMP received multiple reports of fraud that had occurred after payments had been made by cheque by an individual for items posted for sale on Facebook Marketplace. An investigation had led to a search warrant being conducted at a residence in the 108 Mile Ranch, where an adult male was arrested.
A search of the residence led to property being recovered, which the RCMP believe was obtained by fraud. The male was later released and will be attending court at a later date. RCMP said the investigation is continuing.
RCMP responded to three break-and-enter reports
100 Mile House RCMP had responded to three separate break and enter reports, including to a business on Cedar Avenue, a commercial property on Exeter Truck Route and at a residence on Houseman Road.
The first incident, which was reported to the RCMP on June 4, had occurred in the 400 block of Cedar Avenue, where a building belonging to a business had been entered and where a sum of cash had been taken. RCMP believe this happened at 5:40 a.m.
The second incident, which was reported to the RCMP on June 4 as well, had occurred at a shed on a commercial property on Exeter Truck Route. Sometime between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. on June 1, a shed was entered where fuel cans and a propane tank were taken.
Finally, on June 5, a break-and-enter at a residence on Houseman Road was reported to the RCMP. RCMP attended where they say a residence, shop and shed had all been broken into. A Big Tex dual axle flat deck trailer with B.C. license plate 723 07B was taken from the property. RCMP do not know when the incident occurred.
Two single-vehicle collisions result in minor injuries
The RCMP had also responded to two reports of single-vehicle collisions - one on Canim-Hendrix Lake Road and the other on Horse Lake Road.
The Canim-Hendrix Lake Road single vehicle collision was reported to the RCMP on June 4 near Forest Grove. Police had attended with EHS where a vehicle had been found off an embankment. Two occupants were treated at the scene by BCEHS, with one being transported to the hospital for minor injuries.
The Horse Lake Road single vehicle collision was reported, meanwhile, to the RCMP on June 7. Police and BCEHS attended where a vehicle was found off-road. The driver, who was the only occupant, was taken to the hospital by EHS for what was believed to be minor injuries.
RCMP responded to a hit-and-run involving a utility pole
The RCMP responded to a report of a hit-and-run involving property at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 24.
The report was received by the RCMP on June 6, where a utility pole was struck and knocked down. RCMP believe the incident occurred before 8 a.m. on the date of the report.
RCMP stops two vehicles for speeding
The RCMP stopped two vehicles for speeding in two separate incidents last week.
The first incident took place on June 8, when RCMP stopped a vehicle for a speeding offence on Highway 97. After the RCMP spoke with the driver, they found he was prohibited from driving as well as displayed symptoms of alcohol consumption.
RCMP subsequently arrested the driver and after a demand was issued, the driver refused to provide a sample of his breath. The driver was issued an immediate roadside prohibition and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days. The driver was released to attend court for driving while prohibited.
The second incident of speeding also happened on June 8, where RCMP stopped a vehicle for a speeding offence on Highway 97. After the RCMP spoke with the driver, it was determined he had been prohibited from driving. The driver was issued with an appearance for court at a later date and the vehicle was impounded.
Those with any information about these incidents and others are asked to call the 100 Mile House RCMP at 250-395-2456 or anonymously 24 hours a day at Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at bccrimestoppers.com.
