Manitoba RCMP Warns of Scammers Impersonating Police

Manitoba RCMP are warning people about callers impersonating police and seeking personal information. In a November 4 warning, the RCMP said it had received several reports in recent days from people who were told there had been suspicious or fraudulent activity in their names.

The calls appear to come from phone numbers associated with the RCMP, police said. The numbers are faked, however, and the callers are not members of the RCMP. Police said detachments elsewhere in Canada have reported similar scams.

According to the RCMP, the callers are trying to persuade people to click a link, verify passwords or give up bank account details. Anyone who receives such a call should not share personal information and should hang up immediately, police said.

Other tactics to watch for

Police said fraudsters may impersonate anyone, including the RCMP, to take advantage of Canadians. They may send false notices about the delivery of court documents, accuse someone of serious crimes or demand money to bail a loved one out of jail.

Those threats are intended to create a false sense of urgency and pressure people to share personal information, the RCMP said. Police advise people not to let fear rush them into acting. Instead, they should hang up and look up the detachment’s number before calling it back.