Police in Metro Vancouver warn of recent scam spoofing locals with tricky tactics
Police in Metro Vancouver are warning residents of a spoofing scam that is catching some folks off guard.
On Thursday, the Richmond RCMP issued a release stating that it had received a report of its non-emergency phone number being used by scammers.
“Caller ID spoofing involves altering the Caller ID displayed to the person receiving a call to disguise the caller’s identity,” stated Richmond RCMP.
“Scammers often use this method to make it appear a call is coming from a legitimate company or government agency.”
Police described one incident where a victim was told they were being investigated and was asked to deposit $4,000 in Bitcoin to the fraudsters.
The number on the caller ID appeared to be the Richmond Detachment non-emergency phone number.
On Friday, the Burnaby RCMP issued a similar warning, stating that a scam involved fraudsters using the detachment’s main number (604-646-9999).
“In recent days, Burnaby RCMP has received reports of people being contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer who appears to be calling from the detachment. Burnaby RCMP is warning not to share any personal information if you receive such a call,” stated police.
Burnaby RCMP added that it has not received any reports of financial loss in relation to this scam so far.
Both RCMP detachments provided further guidance for if a suspicious call is received.
“Police will never demand payment over the phone, and will never ask you for Bitcoin,” said Corporal Denise Kam, with Richmond RCMP.
“If you receive a suspicious call that appears to be from police, you can request the police file number and hang up. Verify the official phone number from a trusted directory or official website and call back directly.”
Furthermore, if you’re not expecting a call or don’t recognize the number, it’s best to let it go to voicemail first.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, report the incident to your local police. You can also contact the anti-fraud centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online.
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