News release
RCMP alerting public of new life insurance policy scam
March 4, 2025
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New Brunswick, New Brunswick
From: New Brunswick RCMP
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The New Brunswick RCMP is warning the public about a new life insurance policy scam currently active in New Brunswick.
Police believe that the scammers obtain information from obituaries, and a few months later, contact a family member of the deceased to notify them of a life insurance policy payout. In many cases, the scammers identify themselves by a common first name and a well-known life insurance company and inform the relative that they are the beneficiary.
The scammer will use the information provided in the obituary to obtain more personal information. Once personal information has been obtained, it can be used to commit other frauds. For example, a scammer can create fake identity documents and apply for credit using someone else's name and personal banking information, and disappear with the money.
"These scammers take advantage of an emotional situation to get people to share their personal information," said Cpl. Matt LeBlanc-Smith from the New Brunswick RCMP. "Please be cautious about providing any financial or personal details over the phone before confirming that it is a legitimate request from an authorized entity. One way to do this is to hang up, and call the company directly.
For further information on the types of frauds and scams that are currently circulating, and on how to best protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website. Please report any suspicious requests to your local detachment."