The Nova Scotia RCMP is warning the public about a number of threatening phone and computer scams being reported throughout the province. 

There are many types of scams on the rise in the province and the most recent one involves callers falsely representing an organization, such as police or government agency. The caller will then threaten to arrest the individual or suspend their travel visa or tax account if immediate payment is not made. Police want to remind the public that legitimate organizations do not conduct business this way.

“If someone portrays themselves as representing a government institution or another organization, and are threatening you with arrest unless you send immediate payment, regardless of reason, it’s a scam,” says Cpl. Laurie Haines of the Nova Scotia RCMP Commercial Crime Section. “These scams are very convincing because the caller ID or spoofed email address appear associated to the police or government institution in question” he further adds.

Recipients of these calls are asked to hang up and not continue with the calls. Anyone who suspects they have been targeted in a phone or computer scam is encouraged to contact their local police, and also the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.