Follow us on TwitterCharlottetown Police Services have seen a slight increase in reported phone scams over the last few weeks and anticipate that with the tax season approaching, these scams will increase.
The forms of scams vary and evolve over time. One consistent theme is that they use fear tactics and threats to pressure the victim into providing personal/banking information and/or pressure them into sending payments that usually consist of a bitcoin transaction, wire transfer or prepaid gift cards.
Don’t be a victim:
- Simply hang up and if you feel the need to verify if the organization was actually trying to reach you, then call that organization directly to inquire why they were calling you. Never provide personal information on inbound calls.
What to do after the call:
- Report the fraud to your local Police
- Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre via their website or by calling 1888-495-8501.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is a good resource to get more information on various frauds and preventative tips. https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm