RCMP Branding Exploited in Secondary Crypto Scam Targeting Previous Fraud Victims in Canada

A Nanaimo resident in Canada fell victim to a secondary cryptocurrency scam after initially losing $3,600 USD in a fake remote stock-trading job. The fraudsters later leveraged Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) branding to create a fake “crypto recovery” operation, targeting victims of prior scams with promises of retrieving lost funds.

Secondary Scam Mechanics

The initial scam began in late 2025 when the victim received an unsolicited text offering a home-based trading opportunity requiring cryptocurrency deposits via an ATM kiosk. After transferring $5,000 CAD, communication with the supposed employer ceased.

Months later, the victim encountered an online notice styled as an RCMP public service announcement encouraging victims to report similar cases. Following the instructions, the individual submitted a form and was subsequently contacted by a man claiming to be a lawyer, “Sam Peterson” of a Toronto-based firm named Helprpc. The caller alleged the discovery of two crypto wallets containing approximately $60,000 USD in profits and offered fund recovery services for an upfront fee.

Law Enforcement and Verification

The RCMP confirmed that they do not contact individuals regarding discovered cryptocurrency accounts, do not partner with private firms for recovery, and do not request payments to investigate fraud. Verification revealed that the purported lawyer was not registered with the Law Society of British Columbia or Ontario, and the provided website was non-functional.

Advisory and Preventive Measures

BrokersView advise residents to exercise caution with unsolicited job offers, social media solicitations, and online ads requesting crypto deposits. Victims are urged to independently verify any legal or financial claims through official regulatory bodies and to report suspected fraudA promptly to the fraud centre. Financial institutions should also be notified, and credit checks conducted to detect unauthorized activity.