THUNDER BAY — If your phone rings and the caller ID shows "Thunder Bay RCMP," it could be fake.
The local detachment of the RCMP says its phone number, 807-623-2791, has been spoofed, and is being used to unlawfully intimidate and defraud victims.
Spoofing happens when a scammer uses a device to mask their real phone number and display an entirely different number.
Anyone with questions or concerns about whether an RCMP officer from Thunder Bay has tried to contact them may call the detachment directly at 807-623-2791, from 8 am to 4 pm.
In a statement Wednesday, RCMP said police and government agencies will never ask people to make payments using bitcoin or gift cards, will not show up at a residence to collect money for a child in jail, and will not ask for personal information such as your social insurance number, date of birth, or phone number over the phone.
They also said the public should be aware the RCMP is not the police of jurisdiction in Ontario, but does enforce federal laws including national security, border integrity, transnational and organized crime, and financial crimes such as cybercrime, money-laundering and counterfeiting.
If you suspect you are being scammed on the phone, you should hang up immediately.
Victims of a scam should report the incident to local police, or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
