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By Liam Verster

Fake Bank Website

New marketplace scam targeting sellers in the Okanagan

Aug 21, 2024 | 12:27 PM

A new, sophisticated marketplace scam is victimizing people selling items online in the Okanagan.

Kelowna RCMP said the new scam sees the fraudster contact a person selling an item online, and offer to pay full price via an e-transfer.

The seller is then sent a link to what appears to be a legitimate bank webpage, where they are asked to enter their bank information and phone number in order to receive a verification code.

One that information has been entered, the scammer can use it to access the victim’s account and transfer out funds.

“This is an extremely sophisticated scam that is a variation of the one-time passcode scam,” Sgt. Laura Pollock, Kelowna RCMP Media Relations Officer, said.

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“We encourage you to make your marketplace exchanges in public locations with security cameras.”

Anyone who falls victim to a fraud or scam is advised to report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.