Telephone scammers targeting South Asian Calgarians, police warn

A telephone scam targeting Calgarians of South Asian descent has prompted a warning from city police.

People impersonating Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) agents or officials from other agencies have been contacting Calgarians by phone and trying to extort money from them.

The victims are told by the scammers that since they have not responded to earlier demands for payment, they must immediately wire money or police will come to arrest them.

The Calgary Police Service does not make a practice of attending individual residences to arrest and jail people on behalf of the CRA, police said in a written release.

Calgarians should be vigilant when receiving questionable requests for money or personal information, police said.

Anyone who has been the victim of such a scam is asked to contact police.

March is national Fraud Prevention Month.