RCMP issue warning over persistent phone scammers in the Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Residents are being reminded to watch for red flags if they get a call from someone claiming to be from Revenue Canada.
Clues the call may be a scam include getting pressured by the person to pay taxes immediately over the phone, or being threatened that police will come and arrest them if they don’t.
Police continue to receive dozens of calls every day about the phone scam, Vernon RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a media release. Police most recently issued a warning about the same scam in early August.
“The scammers have been consistent with the phone number they provide and their method of attempting to extract money and personal information from victims,” Noseworthy says. “RCMP are reiterating that if you receive a call like this, you should never disclose any personal or banking information.”
On at least one occasion, the scammer claimed to be a police officer on their way to put the victim in jail.
If you have become a victim of this or any other scam, and have provided personal information or money, contact your local police detachment, Noseworthy says.
You can also call and report phone scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online for tracking purposes.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
