Nanaimo RCMP are warning the public to be on guard against a phone scammer posing as a Mountie.
The scam was reported to police Monday by a Nanaimo woman who received three suspicious voice messages in two weeks from a man who claimed to be an RCMP officer from the RCMP’s B Division in Newfoundland, and that he was following up on harassment claims made by the victim’s husband.
She checked with her husband who denied filing harassment complaints before she Googled the phone number – 1-647-800-2761 –and discovered it’s associated with a telephone scam where callers attempt to swindle money by convincing people they are talking to a police officer.
“We will call your home from time to time,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “But we’ll be able to identify ourselves and be able to provide some background information.”
People who doubt they are talking to a real police officer are advised to hang up and call the Nanaimo RCMP detachment at 250-754-2345.
“If a cop’s not going to identify himself or provide a case number or any information, you don’t need to talk to him,” O’Brien said.
For more information, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.