Abbotsford police warn of immigration phone scam

Abbotsford police are warning the public about aphone fraudsterwhoappears to be targeting the South Asian community.

Const. Ian MacDonaldsays the scam artist presents himselfas a police officer and uses caller ID 'spoofing' to display the APD phone number.

The suspect thensuggests the victim has immigration issues, and requestspersonal and family information and eventually looks for payment.

"The cash could take the form of a wire transfer, it could be abreach of your credit card information, or they might even try to compel you to buy gift cards for them,"MacDonald said.

MacDonaldsays there have beensimilar scams where acaller posesas a Canada Revenue Agency officer.

"They prey on people who might be vulnerable, in the sense that they might be immigrants to Canada new and old and suggests that they could be deported or they could be in trouble with Immigration Canada," MacDonald said.

Four complaintsin one day

MacDonald sayspolicereceived four complaints on Monday.

The victimwho picked upthe callsaid a manidentified himself as "Steve Miller"and told the victimthe familyfailed to fill out proper paper work when they immigrated to Canada several years ago.

The fraudsteralso threateneddeportation if the persondidn't co-operate in answeringquestions about the names and birth dates offamily members.

Hang up

"The last thing you want to do is stay on the line, it can be upsetting especially if the person is yelling at you oris belligerent, but a person can say they are anyone, and there is little you can do to confirm their identity,"MacDonald said.

Anyone with information about the most this scamshould contact the APD at 604-859-5225 or text 222973.