Scammer targets Kamloops immigrants

KAMLOOPS – RCMP are warning locals about a scammer looking to take advantage of recent immigrants to Canada.

Someone pretending to be an immigration official recently called a local woman several times, RCMP say.

The scammer told her a warrant for her arrest had been issued after her visa had been revoked, according to an RCMP media release. They said she had to wire thousands of dollars or she’d be arrested and deported from Canada.

She was dubious, and instead of wiring the money, she reported the calls to police.

"On all of the phone calls, the victim’s call display showed that the phone calls were supposedly coming from the office of Immigration Canada and the local RCMP detachment," Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says in the release. "The fraudsters use cloning apps to show legitimate phone numbers to trick the victims into sending money."

Shelkie says Citizenship and Immigration Canada don’t accept money over the phone by pre-paid credit cards or private money transfers.

“People should hang up immediately if they find themselves involved in a call of this nature,” she says. “They can then call Immigration Canada to confirm their status and then make a report to their local RCMP detachment.”

To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.