‘CRA’ caller ID scam mimics city police telephone number

Saskatchewan law enforcement is warning the public of a telephone scam that impersonates police on caller ID display.

The Regina Police Service (RPS) said in a news release Tuesday that its phone number (306-777-6500) was mimicked on call display in a fraud attempt where the caller claimed to be a constable from the RPS. The caller said the person’s social insurance number (SIN) was compromised and, as a result, several fraudulent bank accounts were opened in the person’s name.

The caller said police had launched a fraud investigation as a result and transferred the person on the other end of the line to a “CRA agent. At that point, the recipient of the call was told their SIN would be cancelled and was asked to go to the bank and withdraw money.

Instead, the would-be victim called the bank, where the scam was confirmed. It was then reported to police.

Police said caller ID display can be manipulated through openly available spoofing software that “requires minimal effort.” In the release, police reminded citizens to be vigilant and refuse to give personal or financial information over the phone, saying “A Canadian police service will NEVER call to demand that you bring them, or other organizations money.”

Police also said that if the caller claims to be from a business you trust, call the business back on a number you know is correct — not a number provided by the caller.

A similar scam, operating in reverse order, was reported by Maidstone RCMP on Tuesday. In its report, RCMP said the caller first claimed to be an officer from the Canada Revenue Agency, saying the person’s SIN was involved in crime, attempting to learn the victim’s banking information and SIN.

The caller asked for the victim’s local RCMP detachment and phone number, saying an officer would call. The caller then mimicked the local police department’s phone number on caller ID and an “accomplice” confirmed the initial caller’s scam, posing as an officer.