Fraudsters posing as bank and credit card representatives in Waterloo Region

A stock photo of a man using a smart phone to communicate on the internet. (File photo/ijeab/FreeP!k)

Scammers working in Waterloo Region are spoofing bank and credit card companies to trick their victims.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service has received multiple reports about a scam where the victim answered a call from someone pretending to represent a credit card company or bank.

The caller tells the victim a suspicious or compromised transaction has been flagged on their account. The scammer then asks to verify the victim’s card information.

Once the caller has the information they want, they arrange for a courier to go to the victim’s house and pick up the bank or credit card. Those cards are then used to make unauthorized purchases.

Police said the callers are using technology that changes their call display number to mirror a legitimate business – a technique known as “spoofing.”