The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are alerting the public to a serious scam involving fraudsters who are impersonating police officers. Recently, the OPP’s Southern Georgian Bay Detachment received reports from a resident who was contacted by individuals claiming to be police, using a phone number that appeared to be legitimate. The callers informed the victim that their Social Insurance Number had been compromised and that fraudulent bank accounts were opened in their name, pressuring them into taking financial actions that were, in reality, part of the scam.

In their release, the police highlighted that the scammers instructed the victim to withdraw funds and deposit them into a Bitcoin ATM, alleging this was necessary for an ongoing police investigation. This manipulation exploits the victim's fear and confusion, making them more susceptible to the fraud. The OPP emphasized that the phone number used had been spoofed to resemble a legitimate police dispatch number, which is a common tactic used by scammers to gain the trust of their targets.

The OPP reiterated a crucial message to the public: legitimate police officers will never ask for money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, and they do not direct individuals to withdraw or transfer funds for any investigation. In light of the incident, the OPP is urging residents to remain vigilant against such schemes and to report suspicious calls to help prevent others from becoming victims of these fraud tactics.