Steinbach RCMP would like to advise local businesses of a recent business scam that has been reported numerous times. The scam involves making payment via Bitcoin for money owed.
On October 26, 2021, Steinbach RCMP received three complaints from local businesses where the scammer contacts the business, usually in the evening, and speaks with one of the employees. In two of the calls, the scammer convinces the employee that they have spoken with the manager and money needs to be forwarded via Bitcoin for money owed. In another incident, the scammer was also able to convince the employee that they were in danger and needed to make immediate payment.
In all cases, the business and employee lost up to $2000.
Steinbach RCMP are advising that all store managers speak with their employees and inform them that should they receive such a call to simply hang up and contact their store manager and to not fulfill the callers request.
Police say that once money is deposited into a Bitcoin machine, it is gone. There is no means of tracing it or getting the money back.
