A new wave of scams has been targeting local Castlegar businesses, with the Castlegar RCMP issuing a warning to alert residents to the potential threat.
The scam begins with a phone call from an individual claiming to be a service provider. The caller creates a false sense of urgency by stating that funds are needed to allow business operations to continue, and demands payment via Bitcoin ATM.
Police are advising businesses to exercise caution when receiving unexpected calls or messages, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown individuals. They also recommend being wary of urgent demands and verifying the identity of callers before taking action.