Scammer using police phone number

Police suspect someone is using caller ID spoofing technology after a complaint about scammers calling on the Kelowna RCMP’s non-emergency phone line.

The complainant was initially contacted from telephone number 250-250-0311 on Thursday, Sept. 20 when the caller advised the complainant they had a warrant for their arrest and requested personal information to corroborate their identity. This information included full name, date of birth, address, driver’s license number and some banking information.

After the complainant determined it was a scam, they hung up the phone.

“Shortly after, the complainant received numerous calls back and white noise voicemails from telephone number 250-762-3300 which happens to be the Kelowna RCMP non-emergency telephone line. The calls were left unanswered and the complainant reported the matter accordingly,” RCMP Cpl. Michael Gauthier said.

Gauthier said the scammer is clearly using a type of caller ID debunking technology to impersonate the police.

“In some cases an officer could in fact call someone to say they have a warrant but would never ask for this type of corroborating information, especially banking info. Fortunately, this person realized something was suspicious, ceased communications immediately and phoned the real police”

RCMP are reminding anyone who may have been victim to a scam attempt to contact Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Trans Union (1-800-888-4213) and report the matter to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501).