BEWARE OF CALLER CLAIMING HE’S A COP

West Vancouver police have issued a warning to alert residents about scam phone calls that falsely appear to be from a law-enforcement officer.

Several West Vancouver residents have reported receiving calls from a man who claims to be a West Vancouver police constable.

Const. Jeff Palmer told the Straight by phone that they have received 30 to 40 reports about such calls. Police continued to receive reports until June 5 as the Straight was ready to go to press.

The caller has used a variety of false surnames for his calls as well as a badge number starting with a 9. He also refers to a file number, and after telling residents that their debit card has been used fraudulently, he asks for personal information.

In addition, the calls falsely appear to be coming from the West Vancouver police nonemergency number.

Police advise anyone receiving these calls to offer no personal or financial information to the suspect, hang up, and either visit their financial institution in person or contact their financial institution or police from a different phone line to check on any concerns about individual cards or accounts.

Palmer explained that they recommend using a different phone line or visiting in person to ensure that the line has been properly disconnected from the scam call.

Police are also warning residents not to make any financial transfers or transactions that are requested by unsolicited phone calls, email, or online messages, and they are reminding residents that police, banks, and financial institutions do not ask people to transfer funds to external accounts, for security reasons.