WPS warns scammers are pretending to be police with spoofed caller ID
Winnipeg police are warning the public not to trust caller ID, as fraudsters are finding ways to spoof the technology and impersonate officers.
Const. Jay Murray says they’ve had a few recent reports of phone scammers using caller ID to make it appear as if they are from a Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) number, often the general inquiry line – 204-986-6313.
“From that point, they claim to be a police officer or an investigator of some type and attempt to use components of an existing scam, such as the grandparents or a (Canada Revenue Agency) scam, to try and obtain personal information, gift cards, money or credit card details,” Murray explained.
Grandparent scams typically involve a panicked call to an elderly person, with the person on the line claiming to be a grandchild or a family member who is in jail and needs money immediately.
READ MORE: Winnipeg police warn of 'new twist' on scam targeting grandparents
Murray says in this iteration, the caller impersonates police and asks for money or gift cards to help the family member, usually involving some sense of urgency.
“People tend to sometimes make rash decisions under pressure, maybe they don't have an opportunity to corroborate some of that information,” he said.
Murray says spoofing caller ID is nothing new, but this is the first time fraudsters have used WPS’ general inquiries line.
He notes the caller ID system is not very secure, and people should know that it might not necessarily be accurate. The public is encouraged to try to confirm the identity of the person on the call.
If the caller claims they are a family member, ask the caller a few personal questions that a family member could answer but an imposter could not.
Additionally, he said police or courts, including lawyers, will never send someone to your home to try and collect money or gift cards. They will also never tell you to lie to your bank about the purpose of obtaining money.
Similarly, CRA will never demand immediate payment.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING SCAMS
Meantime, Murray says many of these crimes go unreported, as people who fall prey to them are either too embarrassed to come forward, or think reporting them won’t do anything.
“Reporting that, whether you've been a victim or not, whether it's been successful or not, is very important. Not only will it help yourself, but it helps us prevent this from happening to other people, as well,” he said, adding police can sometimes mitigate lost money or stop the transaction altogether.
More information on how to report a fraud or scam can be found on the WPS website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Bob Cole, veteran CBC broadcaster and former voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada,' dead at 90
Bob Cole, legendary CBC broadcaster and former voice of Hockey Night in Canada, has died. He was 90.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.