Ottawa police warning of ‘Service Canada’ phone scam

A phone scam that is being reported in Ottawa and across the country is tricking residents into giving up thousands of dollars.

The Ottawa Police Service says fraudulent phone calls are coming to both cell phone and land lines, and may display the phone number of a legitimate government agency. A recorded message when the phone is answered claims that it is 'Service Canada' calling, and that there has been a crime committed with “your social insurance number (SIN)” and “you need to press '1' to avoid prosecution.”

Police are urging residents not to press 1 and to simply hang up the phone when getting this call. People who have continued with the call have been directed to purchase gift cards or Bitcoin in order to avoid prosecution. Financial losses, in some cases, have ranged from $3,000 to $15,000.

With regards to this scam and similar calls, police advise:

• No government agency will demand or accept payment in Bitcoin or gift cards.
• Never give out personal or banking information over the telephone unless you are absolutely sure of who you are giving it to (do not release your PIN to anyone).
• Do not rely on your phone’s call display option to validate who you are actually speaking with, as fraudsters can spoof phone numbers.

With regards to this specific scam, police would also like to advise that these are robocalls and that the caller does not know any information about you. They will only know your SIN if you provide it to them. 

More information is available with Service Canada.