In a stunning act of quick thinking, a bank teller in Richmond has become a local hero by preventing an elderly customer from losing tens of thousands of dollars to a fraudulent scheme.

On September 11, the Richmond RCMP received a report from a local bank that an elderly man had withdrawn a significant amount of cash and was headed to a nearby mall to meet someone linked to the scam.

Before he could complete the purchase, police located the victim as he was still engaged in a phone call with the scammers. They were pressuring him to buy gift cards, falsely claiming that they had already transferred $26,000 from his account.

Thanks to the teller’s alertness, the officers were able to intercept him and promptly return him to his bank, where they successfully reversed the fraudulent transaction, restoring his life savings.

Inspector Mike Roberts of the Richmond RCMP praised the teller’s swift action, asserting that her intervention prevented a devastating loss for an elderly client. "Phone scams are on the rise, and we urge everyone to be cautious of unsolicited calls. If something feels off, it's better to hang up and protect yourself,” he advised.

The RCMP encourages anyone suspecting fraud—whether for themselves or someone they know—to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Stay vigilant, and remember: scams can happen to anyone.