OPP issues warning after ‘fake police officers’ allegedly demand money from residents

OPP Cruiser. (FILE)

Southern Georgian Bay residents are being targeted by fraudsters posing as police officers, convincing victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin ATMs as part of a ‘supposed police investigation.’

According to police, this scam involves callers claiming a person’s Social Insurance Number has been compromised and linked to fraudulent bank accounts.

In a recent incident, the phone number displayed by a scammer appeared to belong to police dispatch, but investigators later confirmed it had been spoofed.

The callers pressure victims, directing them to move their money to assist with what they describe as a ‘police investigation’. Officers stress this is a red flag, noting police would never request payments, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or ask someone to transfer money.

Authorities are urging residents to remain cautious, emphasizing that caller ID cannot be trusted and that personal or banking information should never be shared with unsolicited callers.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call posing as police is advised to hang up and contact OPP directly.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted is encouraged to report the incident to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as scams like this continue to circulate, police say.