‘Just hang up’: Winnipeg police warn of bank card scam calls

A stack of multicoloured credit cards is seen in this undated image. (Getty Images / iStockphoto / Alexialex)

The Winnipeg Police Service is warning residents about a new bank card phone scam after receiving multiple reports.

Police said the scam entails a fraudster calling and impersonating your bank, informing you that your credit card or debit card has been compromised.

The caller then tells you to cut up your card, but retain the chip — which allows for contactless payments — and asks you to place all the pieces in an envelope, according to police. The caller then says they’ll send a courier to pick it up.

“The fraudsters use the card data to steal funds from your account or make fraudulent purchases,” police said in a news release. “They may be recreating your card or using your credit/debit info on the chip to create fraudulent new accounts.”

Police urge people who receive this call to “just hang up” and to call your bank immediately using the number on your card to inquire about the true status of your card.

Police are reminding people to never share full account numbers, personal identification numbers, or one-time codes over unsolicited calls.

Recipients of these calls are asked to report fraud immediately to your bank, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and to police through their website or non-emergency line.