RCMP warning of phone scam with CRA and police impersonators

RCMPsay they've responded to a number of complaints from people who say they've received fraudulent calls from people claimingto be a member of the RCMPora representative from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

Const. Mark Skinner says there havebeen three to four complaints in the Port Hawksbury area.

"It is a little unusual. Itappears to be a play on the traditional phone scam with a new twist," he says.

That new twist on the CRA scam that has popped up in the Maritimesis that callers are referencing the name of a local RCMP officer and even making the local detachment's number show up in the caller ID, Skinner says.

The caller says they're part of a local detachment and going to "come and get them" at their home, according to police.

"We would never do that," said Skinner.

That first call is followed up by another where someone claims to know about the police call and claimsto be from the CRA. Skinner says they then apply pressure anduseintimidationto try toget money.

Police warn this could result in identityor financial threat.

They advise people to consider if they are actually expecting a call from the RCMP or if the police haveany reason for contacting them. They also say people should be wary if a caller is asking for personal information that isn't related to a police file.

If people receive such a call, police advise them to contact theCanadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.