TORONTO – Crime – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Greater Toronto Area Financial Crime Unit have issued a warning to the public of a “telephone scam”.
“There have been several reports across southern Ontario where a caller identifies themselves as a RCMP Officer,” says Superintendent Dave Bellamy, Officer in Charge of the RCMP’s GTA Financial Crime Unit. “Several different names have been used with a badge number identification. The victims are told that they owe money in taxes or are being charged with a crime. The caller demands money from the victim for restitution. The caller states if the victim does not pay restitution immediately, they will be arrested”.
This situation is simply not true.
The RCMP offers the following tips to help the public remain safe from these types of fraudulent schemes:
- Be cautious of who you are dealing with on the telephone
- For verification, get the name of the apparent police agency and contact them directly via the number listed in the phone book. Do not call the number provided by the caller.
- If you have call display write down the caller’s number and provide it to your local police agency when reporting the incident.
- Do not provide personal information about yourself over the airwaves
- Restitution is awarded through the courts, police do not request or demand money
- Never send money through money wire services to persons you do not know personally.
“The best way to put a stop to fraud related crime is to recognize it and report it,” said Superintendent Bellamy, “March is Fraud Crime Prevention Month, learn to recognize red flags so you can protect yourself financial.”
Visit the RCMP Fraud Prevention Month web page for more information about resources on how to protect yourself from fraud.
The RCMP, GTA Financial Crime Unit is issuing this warning to the general public of this illegal activity. If you have been contacted, please report it to your local police agency and call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre www.antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501.
SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
