VANCOUVER - A staff member at a downtown Vancouver organization has lost $34,000 to a caller who posed as a bank representative, and the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is warning the public not to share banking information over the phone.
Police say the caller used a spoofed phone number and appeared to have detailed information about the victim’s banking accounts. Over a call that lasted more than an hour, the suspect persuaded the victim to provide information that allowed access to two bank accounts.
How the scam worked
The call was built to look legitimate from the first ring. The number that showed on the victim’s phone was spoofed, meaning it was disguised to look like it came from a trusted source. The caller also appeared to know detailed information about the victim’s banking accounts, which made the story easier to believe.
The conversation then stretched on for more than an hour. That length is part of the method: a long call can wear down a person’s caution and make each request feel like a small, reasonable step.
The money was gone before the victim understood what had happened. The two accounts had been drained of approximately $18,000 and $16,000, a total loss of $34,000. The incident was reported to police.
How to protect yourself
VPD is reminding the public to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls from anyone claiming to represent a financial institution. The department’s advice comes down to a few practical steps.
Never provide personal or banking information over the phone unless you have independently verified the caller’s identity. A number that looks familiar proves nothing, because phone numbers can be spoofed.
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up. Then contact your bank directly, using the phone number listed on your bank card or the bank’s official website, not a number the caller gives you.
Slow the conversation down. A caller who keeps you on the line for a long time, pushes you to act right away or asks you to keep the call to yourself is showing the clearest warning signs there are.
Calls like this one are not limited to downtown offices. They target people at home and at work across Metro Vancouver, including in Surrey, and they rely on the same spoofing and pressure wherever they land. The protection is the same everywhere: banks do not ask customers for their credentials by phone, so treat any caller who does as a criminal until you have verified the call through a number you found yourself.
Sources: Vancouver Police Department, “Downtown employee loses $34,000 in bank impersonation scam,” media release, October 2026.
