A recent property tax scam targeting an elderly Richmond couple has prompted a warning from the city.

Last Thursday, a City of Richmond employee encountered an elderly couple in distress outside city hall. According to a city press release, the couple told the employee they had received a call from the city saying they owed property taxes and would be arrested by the RCMP unless they brought a cash payment immediately to the city hall parking lot.

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The city employee informed the couple that this was a scam. However, Richmond Mounties and the city are concerned there may be others who have been targeted in the community.

“We only know of this one incident at this time," Ted Townsend, corporate communications and marketing director for the city told the Richmond News. "But it is similar to the Revenue Canada fraud that is happening across the country where people are posing as Revenue Canada employees and harassing individuals.”

The city typically only contacts property owners regarding utility tax notices quarterly and in late May by mail, either online or through Canada Post. The city will only follow up with property owners who have unpaid taxes and are at risk of having their property put up for auction. All interaction would occur inside city hall, not outside or off-site. City staff will never request cash, crypto currency or gift cards as payment.

Cpl. Dennis Hwang told the Richmond News that, in these situations, it’s important for residents to pay attention to what the end result or threat is.

“If anybody asks you to pay to make a problem go away, it’s a scam,” he said. “People have a real problem, if it’s a phone scam, hanging up the phone. Just hang up the phone.

“People involved in that are counting on keeping you on the line.”

If you believe that you may be a victim of fraud or have provided your personal information by mistake, please contact the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212.

