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Swatting Scam: Fraudster Sends Police to Victim's Home
27 Oct
Summary
- Fraudster dispatched armed police to a woman's home after a scam attempt.
- The victim received threats and death threats via phone and email.
- This 'swatting' incident is believed to be the first of its kind in Canada.
A woman in the Truro area experienced a terrifying ordeal when a would-be fraudster escalated a routine phone scam into a swatting attack, involving heavily-armed police at her residence over the weekend. The incident began when a scammer, posing as a CIBC fraud agent, urged the victim to download an app and share personal information. After her refusal and subsequent polite dismissal, the fraudster became verbally abusive and threatened retribution.
Twenty minutes later, the fraudster called back, promising a 'surprise' at the victim's front door. Upon checking, she found officers from Colchester District RCMP and Truro Police, responding to a false report of a hostage-taking and shooting. The fraudster continued making threats throughout the police presence. This escalation appears to be a deliberate act of causing distress, as confirmed by RCMP Staff Sgt. Mark Rose, who noted the fraudster's actions were in retaliation for the victim's non-compliance.
The harassment continued with relentless phone calls and death threats via email. The victim, a realtor, also experienced a cyber-attack on her agency's website, where her photo was replaced with an offensive image. David Shipley of Beauceron Security described this as a form of terrorism, highlighting the extreme trauma of a swatting attack. RCMP confirmed they offered victim support and are collaborating internationally to identify the perpetrator. CIBC clarified they do not have a 'CIBC Guard' app and never solicit personal information via unsolicited calls.
