RCMP warn over 'spoofing' scams where calls appear to be from police
Security experts say new apps allow call makers to fabricate call IDs and then impersonate officers
RCMP in B.C. are warning about calls that look like they are from police or the federal government but are scam attempts.
The calls are called 'spoofing' — when scammers are able to alter their outgoing caller ID to show a specific name or number on the phone of someone receiving a call.
When answered, the caller says they are an officer, sometimes using the name of an actual police officer.
They explain to the call taker that they are the victim of a crime and then ask the person to divulge personal information such as social insurance numbers, addresses or bank account numbers.
Police say the calls are being made in Nanaimo, Saanich, Victoria, and Kelowna.
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—@CanRevAgencyIn Saanich, Detective Sergeant Damian Kowalewich said spoofing, especially using regional police detachments, is a new low in scams.
"Dropping down to a local level like this is certainly unique and it's something I've never seen in my career," he said.
Darren Laur, a retired Victoria police officer, who now works in technology safety and privacy says new apps are available to criminals to allow them to spoof more easily.
He was able to use one of the apps on his phone to make a call that appeared as being from "RCMP Vancouver" even though there is no such force.
"Spoofing phone calls like this have been around for a long time," he said. "It's just it's become easier to do with the technology that is out there now."
1000s of calls
Laur says scammers are able to put out thousands of calls, hoping for just a few people to be fooled.
"Once you get those bites, that's the money you are looking to put in your pocket," he explained.
RCMP in Nanaimo said they are aware of calls being made to look like they come from the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, and even the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Police advise call-takers suspicious of a call being a scam to hang up. Call takers do not need to report the calls to police unless they have provided personal information.
Calls suspected as being a scam attempt can be reported to the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre.
With files from CHEK News