Scammers are now getting information by pretending to be RCMP officers

Scammers have invoked the trusted name of the RCMP in their latest attempts to get personal information from Kelowna residents — and likely elsewhere as well. 

A release from Kelowna RCMP says police are getting concerned calls from residents who say they were phoned by a man who claims to be a RCMP officer investigating money laundering — complete with what appears to be the Kelowna RCMP detachment phone number.

The caller inevitably seeks personal information like Social Insurance Numbers and banking information to aid the 'investigation'.  

"We can confirm that a police officer did not make this telephone call and that this is not how the RCMP investigates these types of crimes," says Cpl. Meghan Foster of the Kelowna RCMP in a release.

She says they are aware some victims provided the information, although no confirmation that they have had their identities stolen. 

She says you can protect yourself by periodically checking credit reports, bank and credit card statements and report any irregularities to financial institutions and credit bureaus. 

This is just the latest iteration of phone scams likely seeking to steal identities. They have found ways to spoof RCMP phone numbers in the past and used other institutions like Revenue Canada, Service Canada and the Justice Department to intimidate callers. 

Foster says any unsolicited emails, faxes or phone calls seeking personal information should raise suspicions. Don't give them information. 

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