Owen Sound police are warning the community about scammers pretending to be police and trying to get your information.
Police say on Tuesday February 23rd, an Owen Sound resident received a phone call from a local phone number, which played an automated phone message.
The message indicated that the man’s Social Insurance Number (SIN) had been compromised in Montreal and was associated to a drug investigation.
Police say the man then followed voice prompts which led him to speak with a woman who asked him to confirm the last three digits of his SIN card. The man was then told that a member of his local police would call him.
A short time later, a man called and said he was an Owen Sound Police Sergeant.
The phone number even came up as that of the Owen Sound Police Service (519-376-1234).
Police say the culprit then wanted the city resident to deposit money into Bit Coin in order to clear the matter up with authorities.
The victim became suspicious and contacted Owen Sound Police himself where and learned it was a scam.
Police say, although officers do call members of the public on a regular basis for investigative purposes, police do not request Social Insurance Numbers and will not make arbitrary phone calls with respect to your banking information.
If you are unsure as to whether you are speaking with a legitimate police officer over the phone, ask to contact the officer at the police station and call 519-376-1234.
For more information about frauds and scams or to make a report you may contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.