Spoofing is when a scammer uses a device to mask their real phone number and display a different number that does not actually belong to the caller.

Be aware that government agencies, including police:

• Will never ask you to make payments using bitcoin or gift cards,
• Will not show up to your residence to collect money for a child in jail
• Will not ask for your personal information such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN), your date of birth (DOB) or phone number over the phone.

Please also be aware that the RCMP in Ontario is not the police of jurisdiction. In Ontario, the RCMP enforces federal laws, including national security, border integrity, transnational, serious and organized crime and financial crimes such as cybercrime, money laundering and counterfeiting.

If you suspect that you are being scammed, hang up. If you have been a victim of a scam, please report it to your local police. You can also report any scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Stay informed about the latest scams.

Protect yourself from spoofing

• Never assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate
• Hang up and make the outgoing call when someone claims to be contacting you from your financial institution, service provider, law enforcement or government agency
• Call the company or agency in question directly, if you receive a text message or email. Make sure you research their contact information and don’t use the information provided in the first message
• Never click on links received via text message or email
• When visiting a website, always verify the URL and domain to make sure you are on the official website.

With questions or concerns about whether an RCMP police officer from Thunder Bay has or is trying to contact you, call the RCMP Thunder Bay Detachment directly, Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm, 807-623-2791.

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The post Beware Of Calls Spoofing RCMP Thunder Bay Telephone Number appeared first on Muskoka411.

The RCMP was notified that the London detachment’s phone number was “spoofed” and used by the callers to coerce the victims into providing personal information such as their Social Insurance Number (SIN). These callers are also telling some of the victims that they are under investigation by the RCMP and that they will be arrested, unless they transfer large amounts of money within the next few hours.

Spoofing occurs when a caller identification (caller ID) or call display are manipulated to show trusted phone numbers. This tricks people into answering the call and believing they are speaking with a trusted source¹. Do not use call display as a way to authenticate who is calling. Fraudsters may use a variety of other telephone scam tactics as well. The scams are designed to create anxiety so that victims respond by sending money quickly in order to fix the problem.

If you receive unsolicited calls that are coercive or threatening and claiming to be police or any other government department, don’t panic don’t react, hang up. Police services in Canada including the RCMP do not contact individuals via email or telephone for the purpose of collecting fines or money. Don’t give out personal information on unsolicited calls such as your name, address, date of birth SIN or credit card information.

The RCMP is issuing this media advisory to warn the general public of this activity. If you have received similar telephones calls or know of someone who has, please contact your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or through its website.

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