Beware of scam targeting international students, using police phone number

Police are warning the public of the resurgence of a scam that targets international students, using an Ottawa police phone number on call display.

Victims have received calls from people pretending to be investigators from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Police say the fraudster typically tells the victim that they have committed a crime in their home country, usually moneylaundering, and that they will be deported unless they pay money to a lawyer.

The victim is then instructed to purchase prepaid gift cards to pay the lawyer.

To further complicate matters, the calls appear to be from telephone numbers that belong to Ottawa Police Service (613-2361222).

The public should know the Ottawa police phone number will not show up on call display when you are receiving a legitimate call from the Ottawa police.

Police suggest citizens, particularly students, who receive unsolicited calls from a person requesting money or personal information to tell the person on the line that they will call them back. They should then verify the correct number for whatever agency is supposedly calling and then call them back, if applicable.

It is believed that these fraud calls are originating from outside of Canada.

Anyone who has lost money as a result of this scam is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service to make a report at 613236-1222, ext. 7300. You can also make a report online at ottawapolice.ca.