Scam promoting fake RDN Transit passes continues through Nanaimo

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

The page linked to the advertisements contains just a single post, littered with comments from fake or newly setup accounts. (Facebook Screenshots)

grim anniversary

Decade of death: With 18,000 lives lost, B.C. counts cost of 10-year drug emergency

2h ago

off-grid charging

Province helps fund Oceanside EV company's portable charging project

5h ago

On the Brink

Clippers in control of playoff series with Bulldogs

10h ago

Umo passes are available through the BC Transit website, or at selected retail locations.

The ads of Facebook connect to a website which, on Monday, April 28, was not working, as well as a Facebook page titled “Public transport in Nanaimo”.

It has no affiliation with either BC Transit or the Regional District of Nanaimo.

One post, published Sunday, April 27, was on the page with two dozen comments and a half-dozen shares, however upon closer inspection the comments also appeared to be fake.

None of the supposed commenters were local, with locations in their profiles primarily from the U.K., and many of the accounts containing nothing more than a profile picture.

Of all the comments Monday morning, none were from accounts which did not appear to be fake. (Facebook Screenshots)

Both BC Transit and the RDN have issued public alerts about the scam.

They’ve also been trying to alert social media companies about the fraudulent posts, but Weiss said so far the effectiveness of reporting has been minimal.

“Our organization has been reporting this to the social media platforms repeatedly over a long period of time, and we encourage customers if they see this as well, please report it. We’re hoping that just by number of volume of reports that will maybe get some more action on it.”

Weiss added there’s been no reports to BC Transit about people falling for the scam, but multiple reports about its existence have come in.

“It’s the worst possible thing, when somebody has their identity stolen or scammed like this, and from our organization’s perspective we would never want it to be using BC Transit as a method to accomplish that kind of scam.”

BC Transit advises riders to only purchase Umo passes through the BC Transit website, or from verified retail distributors on central Vancouver Island.

We’re on Bluesky! Stay up to date on news across central Vancouver Island through Bluesky, by following @NanaimoNewsNOW.bsky.social.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook