Date: 16 January, 2025
West Vancouver, B.C. – Fraudsters ‘spoofing’ WVPD non-emergency line and posing as police officers
The West Vancouver Police Department is warning local residents, and those as far away as Ontario, of a scam utilizing WVPD’s non-emergency phone number.
Potential victims are told they are speaking to an officer of the West Vancouver Police Department and are provided with a fake name and badge number. Many are then asked to download an app on their phone, putting themselves at significant risk. WVPD will never ask for bail money, bitcoin, gift cards, or money transfers, and we will not ask you to download apps on your phone.
What can you do if you’re targeted?
-Do not provide the scammers with any information, and end the call immediately.
-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.
-Report the attempted fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, either online or toll free at 1-888-495-8501
-Visit westvanpolice.ca to file an online police report if you have been victimized
-Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if you have more information about this or other scams