Victoria Police are warning the public of a new scam that is circulating - involving people with family members who have passed away.
A Victoria resident contacted the police after she received an email which claimed to be from VicPD - saying if she did not reply immediately charges would be laid against her regarding the death of her husband. The police believe the woman's name was obtained from a recent obituary, which the scammer then used to contact her.
The email also requested information that the police believe would be used for identity theft.
Constable Matt Rutherford says if you're not expecting an email from VicPD, or any police department, to phone and check.
“People need to be vigilant when checking their emails. Not to open attachments from people that they don’t know, to follow up, do that extra step to protect themselves, ” Rutherford said.
If you receive an email from the Victoria Police that you want to verify, Rutherford says you should call the department at 250-995-7654.