Scammer targets family of missing Yarmouth County man, say RCMP

The family of a missing YarmouthCounty man has been targeted by an online scam, according to Nova Scotia RCMP.

A family member of Zachery Lefave, who was last spottedin Plymouthon New Year's Day,received an unsolicited text message on Jan. 12 saying that Lefavewas still alive but would be killed if they didn't send $7,000 in gift cards.

The family immediately contacted police without sending any money.

After an investigation, policedetermined the text appeared to have camefrom various locations in North America and Africa, as the sender had been using a virtual private network.

RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Joyce told CBCthatinvestigators are still tracking the source of the text, but they believe it came from a country that does not have a "strong bilateral relationship" with Canada. He said that will make the investigation "very, very challenging."

Police believe the sender obtainedpersonal phone numbers from social media after family members had posted them online during the search for Lefave.

"The person responsible used technology to disguise their location and then preyed on a vulnerable family who are doing everything possible to find Zach," Sgt. Terry Faulknerof the Southwest Nova Major Crime Unit said in a news release Saturday.

The RCMP reminded Nova Scotians that there is a risk when sharing personal information online.

The search for Lefave has been suspended but Yarmouth RCMP is continuing to ask for the public's help in finding Lefave.

Lefave, who was turning 21 at the time he went missing, iswhite, five-foot-nine and 175 pounds with brown hair, brown facial hair and blue eyes.He was last seen wearing a hat, plaid shirt and shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Yarmouth Rural RCMP at 902-742-9106. Anonymous tips can be shared by callingCrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.