Quebec City police are warning the public to stay vigilant as fraudsters have adopted a new tactic: impersonating real police officers by using their names and badge numbers.
The Quebec City Police (SPVQ) issued a statement revealing that scammers are using personal information of actual police officers within the force to establish credibility with their victims.
In these fraudulent schemes, the impostors trick individuals into believing they are victims of a crime, and then offer false solutions to supposedly safeguard their assets.
The SPVQ emphasized that legitimate police officers do not contact citizens to assist in securing their money or valuables, nor do they visit residences to collect funds or possessions.
Moreover, the police department cautioned the public against blindly trusting caller ID information, as scammers can manipulate it to deceive people.
To verify the authenticity of any suspicious communication, individuals are advised to disconnect and independently contact the SPVQ’s non-emergency line at 418 691-6911.
Since the start of the year, the SPVQ has initiated investigations into nearly 300 instances of fraud perpetrated by these bogus representatives.
This warning comes in the wake of similar reports by the Sûreté du Québec last summer, shedding light on the trend of criminals posing as law enforcement officers to perpetrate scams.
