Scammers using ‘spoofed’ Toronto police phone numbers are targeting the public: TPS

A file photo showing a phone scam known as 'spoofing.'

Scammers are using “spoofed” Toronto police phone numbers and targeting members of the public, police say.

Investigators say the caller will address victims by their first name and then will claim to be a member of the Toronto Police Service investigating a ongoing fraudulent scam.

They say at this point, victims have identified this call as a scam and hung up at once.

“Please remember: the Toronto Police Service will never contact you by telephone and make any demands for payment of any kind,” Toronto Police Service said in a news release.

To avoid falling victim to fraud, police are urging poepe to not provide any personal information or banking details to anyone over the phone, not provide any copies of your passport or other identification, and not transfer funds overseas, including cryptocurrency, in response to demands made over the phone.

They’re also advising anyone who has provided personal information or banking details to a possible scammer to contact a credit agency, TransUnion Canada, and/or Equifax and have their accounts monitored.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact Toronto police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.