Williams Lake RCMP are warning area residents of another phone scam, this time from aggressive callers posing as police officers from Revenue Canada.
Cpl. Eric Black said the detachment has fielded several complaints reporting that the scammers are very confrontational and aggressive and have been telling residents there will be a warrant for their arrest unless they pay money.
Black said while Revenue Canada agents do contact people on occasion, they typically deal with accounts by Canada Post. A Revenue Canada agent will never demand money over the phone and threaten persons with jail over the phone.
“Be suspicious of anyone who calls you that you don’t know. Check them out and do not give any personal, or banking, information over the phone unless you’ve called them and know who you are talking to,” said Black.
He said if someone calls trying to sell something, take their information, check the company out and call back if you want their product.
“In every instance, someone saying you will receive a pile of money in exchange for sending them money, is a scam
and, once they get the money you sent, you will never hear from them again,” he said.
And, if someone calls and uses language you don’t like, demands money or threatens you, hang up your phone.
For repeated harassing phone calls residents can use “call trace” to provide legal evidence of harrassing calls to your phone number.
This information is readily available online if you enter the search phrase “trace calls using Telus” or “trace calls using Bell,” whichever your telephone provider is.
The Telus website also advises that Call Trace is effective even when the caller has blocked their name and number. The toll free number to the Telus calling features helpline is 1-800-663-8131. Telus advises that the caller is to follow the easy-to-use voice prompts.
If the caller is aggressive and asks or demands for money, please call the National Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.