City police are warning the public about a phone scam that cost one Sarnia resident over $17,000.
Police said a Sarnia man in his early 40s received an automated voice telephone call earlier this month advising him that it was Service Canada.
After pushing "1" to continue, someone claiming to be an agent with Service Canada told him his identification had been stolen and there was a warrant for his arrest for money-laundering and drug trafficking.
Three times at the request of the caller, the victim transferred a total of $17,600 through two Bitcoin machines in London and through Safari gift cards.
Cst. Nelson Amaral said these scams are happening on a regular basis.
"These criminals are skilled at attacking a victim's emotions. Please be advised that government institutions, financial institutions, police services, ect., do not conduct themselves in this fashion. Government payments are never accepted though way of gift cards, Bitcoin, or Western Union. You will never be asked for your personal information, banking information, passwords, PIN numbers, ect., over the phone."
Cst. Amaral said police strongly encourage you to hang up the phone whenever someone at the other end of the line is demanding money or threatening to arrest you if you don't pay.
"You will never be in trouble for simply hanging up the phone and it's not a criminal offence to be rude. Even if you did owe money [to an institution], you will be notified by registered mail of any money or anything that you owe."
Cst. Amaral said if you have received this type of phone scam, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online by clicking here.
"This scam is very similar to the CRA scam -- instead of it being Canada Revenue Agency, this time it's someone pretending to be from Service Canada. Again, these scammers are very good at attacking someone's emotions over their intelligence. Whether it's praying on fear, empathy, even joy, and then once you're overwhelmed with emotion, you're not thinking rationally."
If you are a victim and have lost money to a scam or your identity has been compromised, contact the Sarnia Police Service in addition to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
