Burnaby RCMP is urging the public to take care when answering the phone after it received a number of reports of scammers impersonating the federal police service.
According to a media release issued by the department, Burnaby Mounties have received several reports of residents being contacted by a man claiming to be an officer with the RCMP or another, unidentified federal agency.
Police say the caller addresses the victims by their full names before identifying himself as an officer or official who is calling in regards to a federal matter.
“The caller then tells the victim they owe a portion of taxes and to not contact the government directly. The caller advises he would be able to help for a fee and if the victims refuse to pay they will be arrested and would go to prison,” the release states.
Burnaby RCMP is urging residents to hang up on any calls similar to the one described above and is reminding residents that officers never make calls to solicit for money.
If anyone does receive such a phone call, police are asking people to report it to the Burnaby RCMP at 604-294-7922 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
