Campbell River RCMP are warning residents about a fraudulent email that impersonates FedEx and demands payment to release a supposedly intercepted package.

The warning follows a report from a Vancouver Island resident who received an email claiming a shipment addressed to them had been intercepted south of Campbell River. The message demanded $1,200 to secure its release.

The recipient suspected the email was a scam and contacted police without sending money or clicking any links.

Investigators reviewing the message found several warning signs, including numerous spelling and grammatical errors, poorly written content and the unauthorized use of a crude RCMP logo intended to make the demand appear legitimate.

“Scammers frequently attempt to create a sense of urgency or authority to pressure people into making payments or providing personal information,” said Campbell River RCMP Officer in Charge Jeff Preston.

Preston urged anyone receiving an unexpected demand for money to pause and verify the information through official channels before responding.

Police stress that they do not collect fees or fines through unsolicited emails, and legitimate law-enforcement agencies will not request payment to release a package.

Residents are encouraged to watch for suspicious links, demands for immediate payment and messages that pressure them to act quickly. Personal, banking and credit-card information should never be provided in response to an unsolicited message.

When checking whether a message is genuine, contact the company or agency directly using publicly listed information rather than contact details supplied in the suspicious email. The RCMP’s national fraud guidance similarly warns against clicking links or downloading attachments in unsolicited messages.

Campbell River RCMP thanked the resident for reporting the incident and encourage anyone receiving a similar email to delete it and report the attempted fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Reports can be submitted through reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or by calling 1-888-495-8501. Anyone who has lost money or become a victim of fraud should also contact their local police as soon as possible.