Phone fraud is rampant for Oak Bay residents, with police fielding calls on several different scams each month.
An early morning call from someone pretending to be from the bank nearly cost a resident $2,000 on Sept. 8, Oak Bay police said in a news release.
The person was called by a fraudster posing as RBC security looking to verify personal information and debit card numbers. Shortly after providing the information, $2,000 was discovered transferred from their bank account.
But then RBC was contacted in time and the fraudulent transaction was stopped.
Officers remind residents that reputable banks will not typically work this way. If in doubt, call or visit the local branch to verify any requests for information or account activity.
The fraud was among the 84 calls for service to the Oak Bay Police Department during the week of Sept. 4 to 10.
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Insurance tickets ’n’ tows
A pair of insurance checks led to an impaired driving investigation and a vehicle uninsured the last two years.
Out on patrol Sept. 4 at 4:21 p.m., officers noted “inactive status” for insurance on a vehicle southbound on Beach Drive near Bowker Avenue.
Once stopped, the driver was suspected of drinking alcohol while driving and subsequently failed a roadside screening device. The driver was issued a 90-day driving prohibition, 30-day vehicle impoundment and ticket for no insurance.
On Sept. 7 at around 8 p.m., an officer on patrol near Beach Drive and Beresford Street noted a vehicle broken down on the road. Officers found the driver hadn’t been insured since 2021 and issued a ticket. The vehicle was towed off the roadway.
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