Saskatoon Police Service is warning of another scam in Saskatchewan which is targeted at older adults.

The Economic Crime Section says the scam begins with a computer pop-up window or a phone call claiming that the computer or the device has been hacked and that action has to be taken to stop it.

Victims have reported that the fraudsters claim to be police or some other authority that directs them to use Bitcoin, pre-paid cards or a bank transfer in order to protect their device from these fictional hackers. The scammers use fear and panic to motivate their victims but Saskatoon Police urge residents to consider what is happening and talk about it with friends or family before sending money anywhere.

Scammers may use a variety of techniques to come across as legitimate but police stress that authorities will not demand payment in Bitcoin or gift cards, nor will they direct members of the public to move funds to ‘protect’ them. And any concerns about the security of financial accounts should be discussed with the financial institution prior to removing or transferring funds.