Local police’s phone number spoofed in $1K scam

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 15, 2021.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Hatters should look for “red flags” to avoid fraudsters, say local police, whose own phone number was used to gain the confidence of a victim recently.

“Spoofing” a phone number is a technique that brings up a false number on caller ID systems. Medicine Hat Police Service says its number was used recently to bilk a local man out of $1,000.

In the case, a caller said that a social insurance number had been compromised and a deposit of cryptocurrency was required.

Police say government agencies, such as police or the Canada Revenue Agency, will never require immediate payment over the phone by credit card and do not accept payment in cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, or pre-paid gift cards, which are generally untraceable.

Never provide personal information, such as account numbers, passwords, or answers to questions that could provide access to accounts, such as birthdates, a mother’s maiden name or other suspicious questions.

Any matter can be resolved by hanging up and returning the phone call to contacts listed on a bill or account statement, police suggest.

More tips for fraud prevention are listed on the Medicine Hat Police website (mhps.ca).