The Calgary Police Service are warning the public of a new cryptocurrency scam, in which fraudsters pose as officers, that has seen victims lose thousands of dollars.
In most cases, scammers claim the victim has a family member who has been arrested and demand money for lawyer fees, sometimes even spoofing the phone numbers of loved ones to make the situation appear legitimate.
Occasionally, scammers pose as officers trying to help victims recover lost funds through a third-party cyber agency in exchange for an exorbitant fee. Payment is almost always requested in the form of Bitcoin.
The Calgary Police Service warned in a Wednesday news release that “scammers often use high-pressure and fear-based tactics in order to receive payment quickly. Do not feel pressured to provide money to strangers and take the time to talk to trusted friends and family to verify the legitimacy of the situation.”
Calgarians can verify an officer’s identity by requesting to see their police badge and police photo identification card, or asking for their badge number. Alternatively, they can call the police non-emergency number at 403-266-1234 to verify an officer’s identity.
