Winnipeg authorities say when the phone rings, the person on the other end of the line may not be who they say they are.

Canada Revenue Agency scams targetting Winnipeggers are not uncommon, but a new one is impersonating the Winnipeg Police Service. The callers on the line will say they are a criminal investigator and the recipient of the call owes Canada Revenue Agency money.

"During some calls, the victim is then told to dial the Winnipeg Police Service non-emergency line at 204-986-6222 (while the line is still open) to confirm that an investigation is underway. The victim believes they have started a new call, but in reality, the scammer has remained on the line," the WPS says."

In some cases, the Winnipeg Police Service's non-emergency line, 204-986-6222, is displayed. The WPS says the impersonator will claim to be a police officer and that the victim needs to transfer them a significant amount of money.

To help avoid the scams, the WPS says:

 

  • Be cautious of any unexpected callers, such as a bank. Take reasonable steps to confirm the identities of people who call.
  • The Canada Revenue Agency will never demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards, or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others.
  • They will also never use aggressive language or threaten you with arrest or sending the police.
  • Do not assume phone numbers appearing on call display screens are accurate.

 

The WPS is asking people to have conversations about potential scams, particularly with elderly people.