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Waterloo Region, Ontario – The Waterloo Regional Police Service is issuing a warning after receiving reports of fraudulent telephone calls that have been “spoofing” the WRPS phone number.
Caller ID spoofing allows fraudsters to disguise their calls and make them appear to represent a legitimate organization.
Since May 25, 2020, police have received several reports of fraudulent telephone calls that appear to be coming from various government agencies, including WRPS.
In one instance, a person received a telephone call from a phone number that appeared associated with Service Canada. The individual was told that their Social Insurance Number (SIN) was linked to criminal activity. As a result, they were required to withdraw money from their account and purchase Bitcoin to keep their money safe. They were then locked out of their account.
The WRPS non-emergency number has also been used in spoofing scams. An individual would receive a phone call from a number that appears as WRPS: 519-570-9777. The scammer would then advise the individual that they are the police and would require cooperation or they would be arrested.
WRPS and other government agencies will not demand payment over the phone, or threaten you with imprisonment if demands are not met.
Do not simply trust what is displayed on your caller ID. If you suspect that a company or government agency is seeking personal information or money, check to verify and ensure their request is authentic.
Never give out personal information such as passwords, your Social Insurance Number (SIN), or other sensitive identification information over the phone.
If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, and have shared personal information or sent money, please report it to police by calling 519-570-9777. You can also report online on our Online Reporting page.
If you have received a phone call, but have not provided personal information or sent money, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501. You can also report online on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
Media Inquiries
André Johnson
Constable
Public Information Officer, Executive Branch
Waterloo Regional Police Service
519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8106
andre.johnson@wrps.on.ca
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