Scammers use spoofing tech to make it look like local police are calling victims about a seized package
Officers are warning of a scam circulating in Metro Vancouver using technology that makes victims think the calls are from local police.
The New Westminster Police Department said some of these calls appear to be from its members.
In a news release Monday, the NWPD said people have received such calls recently in the city.
Targets of the scammers are told they're speaking to a police officer, and that packages for them have been seized at the border.
Potential victims are told there's been a warrant issued for their arrest, and asked for personal information.
The NWPD did not say what information the scammers are looking for, but in similar schemes callers ask for details including credit card information.
"If you receive one of these calls, block their number and hang up," Sgt. Sanjay Kumar said in a statement.
Anyone who's fallen for the scam is encouraged to call police and file a report. Some types of fraud can even be reported online.
Those who got the call but didn't share any information are asked to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by phone.
The technology used in the latest round of fraudulent calls is not new, and the NWPD is not the first department in B.C. to be tied to such a scam.
The Kelowna RCMP detachment is one example. Back in the fall of 2019, Mounties warned residents of the Okanagan area that someone was making calls, pretending to be a police officer and demanding information they claimed would help an investigating into money laundering.
A Canada Revenue Agency scam just a month before the warning issued by Kelowna RCMP saw would-be victims receiving calls from someone pretending to be a member of the Vancouver Police Department.
In that case, the spammers made the calls look like they were coming from the VPD's non-emergency line.
And in 2018, a police officer in Port Moody showed even constables can be targeted when he posted video of his interaction with someone claiming to be an officer with the CRA.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.