Police want help solving bank fraud

Woman scams two branches for $10,000

Ottawa police seek the public’s help to nab a woman who in late October conned two local banks of $10,000 in a “phishing scam.”

On Oct. 29, a woman, said to be in her 30s, sauntered into a bank in the 900 block of Smyth Road and another in the 1300 block of Richmond Road. She said she had lost her bank card and was able to withdraw $10,000 from a victim’s account.

The police did not identify the banks involved, but a Google Maps search shows two branches of the Bank of Montreal at those locations. BMO’s listings for its Ottawa-area branches shows one at 945 Smyth and another a 1315 Richmond.

The woman is described as an English-speaking Caucasian with shoulder-length brown hair who was wearing a black toque and a black coat.

Anyone with information about the suspect or these scams is asked to contact Det. Anh Dieu, with the west district investigations unit, at 613-236-1222 ext. 2645, or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS), or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.