RCMP warn of fraudsters posing as bank employees

Red Deer RCMP have received reports of fraudulent phone calls involving individuals pretending to be bank employees. This scam involves the fraudster calling from either a spoofed phone number (spoofing is the act of altering the caller ID displayed to the person receiving the call) or an unknown number, the person then identifies themselves as bank employee demanding gift cards or cryptocurrency to assist them with removing unauthorized charges from their accounts.

Red Deer RCMP have the following recommendations to help protect yourself from this type of fraud:

• If you receive a phone call similar to the one described, hang up the phone and contact the person or organization       directly from a known and trusted phone number
• Do not post personal information online or social media
• Remember that government organizations and banking institutions will never ask for payment by gift cards or cryptocurrency

Red Deer RCMP encourages the public to visit The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) to familiarize themselves with the many different types of scams out there, as well as to access information and resources to share with family and friends.

If you have fallen victim to this or any other scam, please contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-406-2200, as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or 1-888-495-8501). To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.