Burnaby man charged in bank card fraud scheme as police warn public of scam's growth

A 26-year-old Burnaby man has been charged with 16 fraud-related offences following an investigation by Burnaby RCMP into a bank card scam that has also prompted warnings from police in Richmond.

Yeral Jauvin Varona is accused of being involved in the scam, in which victims received calls from someone claiming to be from their bank. The caller informed them that their cards had been compromised and offered to send a representative to collect them.

Shortly afterwards, a person arrived at the victims' homes, took the cards, and promised replacements would be delivered the following day. Instead, funds were transferred out of their accounts.

The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved charges against Jauvin Varona that include six counts of fraud under $5,000, one count of fraud over $5,000, and charges of identity fraud and disguising his face with intent, Burnaby RCMP said in a news release Thursday.

Online court records show he was granted a release order on Jan. 24 and is set to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Feb. 13. Police say he is subject to strict court-imposed conditions.

"While we've moved this investigation to the court system, it is important to note that this type of scam is still occurring in the Lower Mainland," said Cpl. Mike Kalanj of the Burnaby RCMP. 

1st public alert issued last year

Mounties first issued a public alert in February 2024 after two seniors in Burnaby reported losing thousands of dollars to the scam.  

Similar bank card fraud cases have also been reported in Richmond, where police issued a public alert last week after three new incidents were reported since an initial alert in December 2024. 

Richmond RCMP noted the fraudsters appear to target older adults, possibly using publicly available phone directories to obtain their addresses.  

"This scam is especially concerning because it involves direct, in-person contact, which makes it look more legitimate," said Cpl. Denise Kam with Richmond RCMP's Economic Crime Unit.

In a statement to CB.C. News on Friday, Richmond RCMP Cpl. Adriana O'Malley said investigators are actively working to identify suspects linked to the fraud cases. She added that police are collaborating with jurisdictions across the Lower Mainland to identify common trends or connections between reported incidents.

However, O'Malley said the Burnaby suspect does not appear to be connected to the Richmond investigations at this time.

She also confirmed that other jurisdictions in the Lower Mainland have received similar reports.

Both Richmond and Burnaby detachments are urging residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting financial information.

Police advise people to verify any claims of compromised bank cards by calling their bank directly using the number on their bank card or official website. They also stress that legitimate banks do not send staff to collect cards or deliver replacements to homes.

Authorities encourage anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam to report it to their local police department.