Police in Delta are warning the public about an ongoing phone scam in which a fraudster is spoofing the department’s non-emergency number to deceive victims.
"Today alone, the DPD has received more than 40 reports from individuals who were contacted by a caller falsely claiming to represent either the Delta Police or an anti-fraud agency," the department said in a press release issued at 1 p.m. Thursday (March 13).
Police say victims are being told that their phone number is linked to a police investigation and then asked to provide personal information.
These calls appear to on call display as coming from the Delta Police Department’s non-emergency number (604-946-4411), but they actually are not.
Police say the scam has been reported across Canada and the United States, with a concentration of cases in Manitoba and Ontario.
"The DPD is actively monitoring the situation and reminds the public to stay vigilant against phone scams," the department said in its press release.
Police advise anyone receiving such a call should not provide any personal information, money or gift card details, and instead should hang up immediately.
"If you are uncertain about the call’s legitimacy, do not call back using numbers or links provided by the caller. Instead, independently contact the DPD’s non-emergency line at 604-946-4411 to verify the information."
The Delta Police Department is encouraging community members to share the above information and help raise awareness about this scam.
