March 4,2026
RED FM News Desk
The Nanaimo RCMP is alerting the public to a cryptocurrency scam that began with a fake work-from-home job offer and later evolved into a fraudulent “recovery” scheme using the RCMP logo.
In late 2025, a Nanaimo resident lost $5,000 after responding to an unsolicited text offering an online job involving cryptocurrency stock trading. The victim deposited the money through a cryptocurrency ATM, after which the supposed employer cut off contact.
Months later, the same individual encountered what appeared to be an RCMP public service announcement online and filled out a form. They were then contacted by a man claiming to be a Toronto lawyer who said he had located $60,000 in cryptocurrency profits in the victim’s name and offered to help recover it. The victim grew suspicious and discovered the caller was not a licensed lawyer and the associated website was non-functional.
Police emphasized that the RCMP does not contact individuals about found cryptocurrency accounts, partner with private firms to recover funds or request payment to investigate fraud. Authorities are urging people to be wary of unsolicited job offers, avoid sending cryptocurrency through ATMs for employment or investment opportunities, verify professional credentials and report fraud attempts to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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