Another scam is making its way around the province.
The RCMP and OPP are warning residents about fraud calls impersonating the provincial and federal police.
“Individuals using the OPP’s non-emergency telephone number to legitimize fraudulent bank investigator scams, where victims are misled into believing they must help catch a dishonest bank employee or resolve suspicious transactions by providing personal information or transferring funds,” said the OPP in a release. “RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are also warning about ongoing phishing schemes where those behind the scams claim to represent the RCMP.”
The OPP has seen an increase in the spoofing of business, government, and law enforcement telephone numbers, email addresses, and websites.
Spoofing is when you mask your actual phone number and display the number of a reputable business or organization. In this case the police.
The same practice can be used for emails where the scammer adds fake logos and email signatures.
“Do not trust caller ID. Those behind the scam can spoof legitimate numbers to deceive you,” said the OPP. “If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and verify the claims by contacting your bank or the organization directly. Use a trusted number, such as the one on the back of your debit or credit card. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages and never share authentication codes.”
The OPP is reminding residents that its non-emergency number is for incoming calls only.
The OPP will never contact the public to demand money.
If you suspect fraud contact your local police service or the OPP at 1-888-310-1122
