If you get a call from West Vancouver police, it’s not West Vancouver police.
West Vancouver Police Department is again warning residents of a scam using the department’s non-emergency phone number.
Potential victims receive a call that appears to be from 604-925-7300, WVPD’s non-emergency line. This is possible with tools that allow scammers to spoof the caller ID system.
The victim is told they are speaking to a police officer and are given a fake name and badge number.
Many are then asked to download an app on their phone, putting themselves at significant risk, police said.
Scammers also ask for personal information, which can lead to financial or identity fraud, police said.
But police will never call members of the public from its non-emergency line, which is used exclusively for local residents to report non-urgent police matters, according to WVPD.
Police said they will never ask for bail money, bitcoin, gift cards or money transfers, and won’t ever ask people to download apps on their phones.
If you think you’re being scammed, don’t provide any information and end the call immediately, police said.
“Do not call the ‘spoofed’ number back to inquire about missed calls. This inundates the non-emergency police line, delaying access for those who may need assistance,” WVPD said.
Police ask that you report the attempted fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, either online or toll free at 1-888-495-8501; visit the WVPD website to file an online police report if you have been victimized; or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if you have more information about this or other scams.
