Strathcona County RCMP warn residents about telephone financial institution scam

Strathcona County RCMP are warning the public about a scam involving fraudulent telephone calls that appear to come from financial institutions.

The calls display a number that matches the one found on the back of a bank or credit card. The caller claims to be from the recipient’s financial institution and says the person’s account has been compromised. Victims are then pressured to provide personal and banking information to resolve the issue.

These calls are often high-pressure and manipulative, with the goal of stealing personal and banking information.

Safety tips to protect yourself:

• If you receive a call claiming your personal information has been compromised, take note of the details and hang up.
• Do not share personal information such as your name, social insurance number or address.
• Be aware of spoofing, where caller ID is manipulated to show trusted phone numbers. Do not rely on call display to verify a caller’s identity.
• If you’re concerned your information has been compromised, contact the agency or financial institution directly using a verified phone number or visit in person.
• The best defence against scams is to resist pressure and avoid making quick decisions, no matter how persuasive or aggressive the caller may be.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or has shared personal or financial information in error is advised to contact their local police service and financial institution.

To learn more about fraud prevention, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca.

If you have information about this scam, contact Strathcona County RCMP at 780-467-7741 or your local police. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or through the P3 Tips app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

-30-