Red Deer RCMP warn of spoofed-call scam impersonating officers
Fraudsters posing as RCMP sergeants used spoofed phone numbers to pressure victims for personal information on Oct. 29. Red Deer RCMP say similar calls have also targeted people in Ontario.
Why it matters
Residents who recognize the scam tactics are less likely to be pressured into handing over personal or financial information.
Red Deer RCMP say they received multiple reports on Oct. 29 of residents being contacted by callers posing as RCMP officers, including some claiming to hold the rank of sergeant. The callers provided false regimental numbers and used technology to make their calls appear as though they were coming from RCMP phone lines, a tactic known as spoofing.
According to the detachment, victims were told that police were investigating their involvement in a crime or that their personal information had been compromised. The callers then tried to obtain personal details from victims, and in some cases directed them to click on a link. Red Deer RCMP say the fraudulent calls have targeted people in both Alberta and Ontario.
Police are urging anyone who receives such a call not to share personal information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, banking details or passwords unless they initiated the contact and verified who they were speaking with. They also recommend verifying suspicious calls or messages through a trusted contact or an organization's official website, and reporting scams to local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre even if no money or information was lost.
Red Deer RCMP say the investigation into these incidents is ongoing and are asking anyone with information to contact the detachment at 403-406-2200.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.