Scammers use police phone numbers and pretend to be officers to commit frauds
Toronto Police have issued a public safety notice following reports of scammers pretending to be officers to commit frauds.
According to police, on Tuesday October 15, a woman attended the service’s 31 Division to report a fraud.
It is alleged that on Monday, October 14, the woman received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from Canada Revenue Agency. He advised her that she was being investigated in relation to her SIN number being used for fraudulent activity.
Police say that she then received a phone call from 416-808-3100, with no name on display, from an individual who identified himself as a police officer.
The woman was allegedly advised that she could call 31 Division to check on the caller’s employment. She did not call or check on the employment at the time.
Investigators say the woman was then told she needed to deposit money into a Bitcoin machine located in the area of Jane Street and Sheppard Ave W.
It was allegedly agreed upon that a $1000 payment would prevent a warrant from being issued for her arrest. The woman went to the Bitcoin machine and deposited the money.
“Officers have recently been made aware of multiple related occurrences where police phone numbers are being used to commit similar frauds or people are pretending to be police officers,” said Toronto Police.
“We would like to remind the public that police would never ask for forms of payment over the phone and do not accept Bitcoin currency.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3107, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
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