New scam involving callers claiming to be employees of Immigration Canada and HRP

 

Investigators in the Financial Crime Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division are warning citizens about a recent telephone scam.

 

On July 5 at approximately 3 p.m., police received a report that a 19-year-old woman received a call from someone claiming to be with Immigration Canada. The female caller told the woman that a complaint had been filed against her and she would require legal representation which would cost hundreds of dollars.  The victim was asked to forward the funds through Western Union and also to purchase iTunes cards and provide card information. The woman then received a follow-up call from a man stating he was a police officer advising her to send the money requested. The number on the call display was 902-490-5016, which a general inquiries telephone number from HRP. This number is believed to have been generated by a computer program. The woman, believing these to be legitimate calls, followed through with the requests and was defrauded out of hundreds of dollars.

 

Police have seen a dramatic increase in fraudulent activity where callers are portraying themselves as members of different businesses and agencies and demanding money or items of monetary value. Often there are threats involved where the caller states that if the complainant does not do as requested immediately there will be repercussions.

 

Citizens are advised that Immigration Canada and HRP do not conduct their business, request money or threaten citizens by phone in this manner. Citizens should not engage in conversation with anyone who is making calls of this nature and should hang up immediately.

 

If you’ve lost money or provided personal information as a result of this or any other scam, please report the matter to your local police agency.  There is no need to call police to report that you’ve been contacted in relation to this scam if you’re not a victim.

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Source: Media Release