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Provincial police issue warning about 'spoofing' phone scam

Spoofing is a technique allowing scammers to call from a number they select; Callback then comes from someone you believe is local police
OrilliaMatters Staff
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NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind the public that "phone scams" are not a thing of the past.

On Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 police were informed of a recent phone scam incident. Police are hoping that informing the public will help reduce further scams.

What's been happening and what you should be aware of:

  • Phone call from someone pretending to work for the government
  • Scammer says that your Social Insurance Number has been compromised
  • Asks you who your local police service is
  • Tells you that your bank accounts are at risk and money needs to be secured in a Bitcoin account
  • Tells you that police will call you back and that you should cooperate
  • Uses a "spoofing" technique that allows them to call from a number that they select
  • Phone call back from who you believe is your local police service
  • Provides an address for you to deposit funds into a bitcoin machine

How to protect yourself:

  • If something doesn't seem right hang up
  • Call your local police service and meet with an officer
  • Police will never ask you to secure funds in bitcoin machines
  • Police will never ask for funds or give you instructions on how or where to deposit funds
  • Often times, there will be a request not to tell anyone, to keep it a secret to avoid further trouble
  • Request for gift cards or crypto-currency
  • Urgent request for action or information
  • Request for banking information

How spoofing works:

  • Phone Number Spoofing allows scam artists to trick caller-IDs into displaying false information.
  • By spoofing local phone numbers or information into called ID devices, scammers hope to entice the recipient to answer a call they would otherwise decline.

If you or someone you know may have been a victim of an emergency scam, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You can also report fraud through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll-free at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre.ca

Learn more about ongoing scams in Canada with the Little Black Book of Scams: https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04333.html.

FRAUD...Recognize it...Report it...Stop it.

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