The RCMP are warning about a gold scam in which fraudsters pretend to be police. The headline does not describe the exact approach, but anyone contacted unexpectedly and told to buy, hand over or otherwise move gold should stop and verify the request independently.
What the scam looks like
Someone may contact you by phone, text, email or in person while claiming to be a police officer. They might use a made-up emergency or investigation to make you feel that you must act quickly. In a gold-related scam, the request may involve buying gold, handing over gold you already own, or arranging for someone else to collect it. These are general warning signs for this type of scam; the exact details in the RCMP warning may differ.
The person may try to sound official, use a name or badge number, or say that you must keep the conversation secret. They may also claim that your money or valuables are unsafe and that moving them will protect you or help police with an investigation. A caller can make a number appear familiar, and a convincing story is not proof that the person is really with the RCMP or another police service.
The RCMP is a real police service. A person pretending to represent it is not the RCMP. Do not rely on caller ID, a uniform, documents sent by message, or details the caller already knows to confirm someone’s identity. End the contact and reach the police service through contact information you find independently, rather than using a number or link provided by the person who contacted you.
Red flags to watch for
- An unexpected contact claims to be police and says you must act immediately.
- You are told to buy gold, withdraw savings to purchase it, or hand over gold or other valuables.
- The person says your assets are at risk and that transferring them is a way to keep them safe.
- You are instructed to keep the request secret, avoid speaking with family, or ignore advice from bank staff.
- The caller discourages you from ending the call or checking the story with a police service using independently found contact details.
- You are asked to meet a stranger or leave valuables somewhere for collection.
What to do if you’ve been targeted
- Pause and do not transfer anything. Do not buy gold, give it to a stranger, or share banking information because of an unexpected call or message. If someone is at your door, you do not need to let them in.
- End the contact. Do not use a callback number or link the person supplied. If you want to check whether police need to speak with you, find the police service’s official contact information independently and contact it yourself.
- Tell someone you trust. A family member, friend or bank employee can help you think through an urgent-sounding request. A legitimate-looking story can be difficult to assess while you are under pressure.
- If you shared financial details or sent money, contact your bank promptly. Ask what steps may help protect your accounts or stop a payment. If you bought or handed over gold, keep any receipts and messages, and tell police what happened.
- Keep records. Save messages, call details, receipts and any descriptions of people or vehicles involved. Do not put yourself at risk to gather more information or confront anyone.
- Change passwords if you shared them and secure affected accounts. If you provided identity information, ask your bank and the relevant service providers what precautions are appropriate.
How to report it
Report the incident to your local police, even if you did not lose money. You can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. If money was sent or banking details were shared, contact your bank as soon as possible. Reporting helps document what happened and may help authorities identify related attempts.
Source: RCMP warning of gold scam where fraudsters pretend to be police – CityNews Halifax
Reviewed by our editorial team on .
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The Scam Alert Team tracks fraud targeting Canadians and turns official warnings into clear, practical advice. Our team has a background in IT and cybersecurity, and every article is fact-checked against official sources before publication. How we verify alerts