Fraudster impersonating Ottawa police, victim services with real phone numbers

Police are warning the public that people are impersonating members of the force and Ottawa Victim Services.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said people have been receiving calls from persons pretending to be victim support workers. The fraudster starts by telling the victim their personal information has been compromised and appeared on the dark web relating to crimes against children.

The scammer then asks the victim to go to their bank and transfer funds or offer to help transfer money out of the “compromised accounts” to another.

“To further complicate matters, the fraudster references a partnership with Ottawa Police Service investigators,” the press release reads.

The phone calls may also come up on the victim’s call ID from a number that belongs to Ottawa Victim Services; 613-238-2762 or Ottawa police; 613-236-1222.

The public should be aware that the actual numbers for victims services and police will not show up on the call display if the call is legitimate, the press release reads.

Officials want to remind the public that if they receive phone calls from someone requesting money or personal information that they should tell the person on the line they will call back.

“They should then verify the correct number for whatever agency is supposedly calling and call them back, as applicable,” police note.

This comes after a number of scams have been popping up in the nation’s capital including one involving city paid parking and a card skimming fraud with Uber and taxis.

If you have been a victim of fraud, make a report online with the Ottawa Police Service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).