Beware of a scam targeting international students, using Ottawa Police phone number

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/index.aspx?newsId=2e1b8db8-d6cc-47bb-88f2-1e62302135dd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 5, 2018           11:25am 

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is warning the public of the resurgence of a previously reported scam.  

Victims, who are mostly international students, have received calls from persons pretending to be investigators from the Government of Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department. 

The fraudster typically tells the victim that they have committed a crime in their home country (usually money laundering) and that they will be deported unless they pay money to a lawyer.  The victim is then instructed to purchase pre-paid gift cards in order to pay the lawyer.  

To further complicate matters, the calls appear to be from telephone numbers that belong to Ottawa Police Service i.e. 613-236-1222. 

Citizens, especially students, are reminded that should they receive unsolicited calls from a person requesting money or personal information; they advise the person on the line that they will call them back. They should then verify the correct number for whatever agency is supposedly calling and then call them back, as applicable.

It should be further noted that the actual Ottawa Police phone number (613-236-1222) will not show up on your call display when you are receiving a legitimate call from the Ottawa Police. 

It is believed that these calls are originating from outside of Canada. 

Anyone who has lost money as a result of this scam is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service to make a report at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. You can also make a report online at ottawapolice.ca.