Five Alberta RCMP detachments say scammers are copying police names and phone numbers on caller ID to scare people into handing over information or money.
Scammers are pretending to be police officers, and the caller ID may even say "RCMP." Five RCMP detachments in Alberta have warned that fake callers are changing the name or number that shows on your phone screen. The trick is called spoofing. Olds RCMP posted its warning on Friday, Nov. 6.
Police in Olds, Parkland County, Enoch, Red Deer and Wood Buffalo have all reported similar calls. The callers have also posed as government staff, bank employees and cybercrime investigators. The stories vary, but they follow a pattern.
In Enoch, one robocall said someone had been arrested with your critical information and told people to press 1 to speak to an officer. Enoch RCMP said its complaint line does not use automated messages. In Red Deer, callers claimed to be sergeants, gave false regimental numbers and sometimes told people to follow a link.
Parkland RCMP said scammers made calls appear to come from the detachment's name or its 24-hour complaint-line number. Red Deer RCMP reported the same kind of trick. So a familiar name or number on the screen is not proof of anything. The pressure is the real giveaway.
Staff Sgt. Sabrina Clayton of Wood Buffalo RCMP said fraudsters often create a sense of urgency to push people into sharing information or acting fast. She said police and government agencies will not demand sensitive personal information by phone, or threaten arrest or legal action if you do not comply immediately.
Anyone with a phone could get one of these calls. Reports so far came from Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Wood Buffalo RCMP said calls first reported on Oct. 22 reached people in all five provinces, and Red Deer RCMP said calls reported on Oct. 29 reached people in Alberta and Ontario.
People who hung up, or who got a call but shared nothing and paid nothing, have little to worry about. The risk is for those who gave out details, clicked a link or sent money.
The alert box above lays out the steps, including how to check a caller and who to contact if you already shared details or paid. Police also ask people to report suspected scams to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre even if no money was lost.
The police statements do not say how many people lost money, or who is behind the calls. More detachments may issue warnings as reports come in.
A caller ID that says police is not proof, so hang up on any urgent demand and call the agency back using a number you looked up yourself.
Deputies in the Upstate area say scammers are calling while posing as police officers, and a scary call can cost you money or personal details.
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