Residents are being warned about a telephone scam in which a fraudster uses a real Toronto police phone number to convince people to hand over their personal information.
Toronto police say they have received several reports of people getting phone calls from a caller posing as a police officer.
In a news release Friday, police said the fraudsters are using caller ID spoofing, making it appear that the call is coming from a legitimate business or government agency, such as the Toronto Police Service, but in fact, it is not, police said.
The caller ID shows a phone number of (416) 808-5200, which is an actual phone number for Toronto police’s 52 division, but the calls are not coming from the Toronto police, police say.
Police say the caller provides a false name and badge number, claiming to be investigating fraudulent activity. The caller then says to contact the Chinese authorities to report such activity, and may also place a video call and record the interaction.
“The Toronto Police Service is reminding the public that if they receive a phone call from someone identifying themselves as a police officer, obtain their name and badge number, then call back the police directly to confirm whether it is a legitimate call,” police said in the release.
“Never provide personal information to an unknown person over the phone.”
Anyone with information about the scam is urged to call police at 416-808-5200, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).