A consumer watchdog is issuing a warning about a fake gold bar scam that fraudsters are using to fool victims. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) said it has received reports of the trick that usually starts as a fake pop-up message on an individual’s computer screen, warning them their bank accounts have been hacked. Victims are given a phone number to call, and they are instructed to convert their assets into gold bars and hand them over for safe keeping. “What sounds absurd can take on an air of believability and lure people in because there is an urgency to the message that can cause costly and, in some cases, financially devastating mistakes to happen,” said Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, president and CEO the BBB serving Alberta and East Kootenay, in a news release. The agency said in one instance of the scam, a victim lost more than $700,000. The BBB says people can protect themselves from these types of schemes by following some simple guidelines such as avoiding calling any number provided in a pop-up, text or email, never transferring large amounts of money over the phone to someone you don’t know and never engaging with the scam in the first place. “Turn off your computer, hang up the telephone,” the BBB said. “Contact someone you trust and let them know your situation.” The organization also encourages people to report such scams to the proper authorities.
