Public Safety Scam call - Fraud

Public Safety Scam call - Fraud

Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - 5:02 PM
31 Division:  416-808-3107

Toronto Police would like to notify the public of a report of a scam caller pretending to be a police officer.

On Tuesday October 15, 2019 a woman attended the service’s 31 Division to report a fraud.

It is alleged that:

- On Monday, October 14, 2019 she received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from Canada Revenue Agency. He advised her that she was being investigated in relation to her SIN number being used for fraudulent activity

- She then received a phone call from 416-808-3100 (no name on display) from an individual who identified himself as a police officer

- The woman was advised that she could call 31 Division and check on his employment. She did not do this at the time

- The woman was told she needed to deposit money into a Bitcoin machine located in the area of Jane Street and Sheppard Ave W.

- It was agreed a $1000 payment would prevent a warrant from being issued for her arrest

- She attended the Bitcoin machine and deposited the money

Officers have recently been made aware of multiple related occurrences where police phone numbers are being used to commit similar frauds or people are pretending to be police officers

We would like to remind the public that police would never ask for forms of payment over the phone and do not accept Bitcoin currency.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3107, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Connie Osborne, Corporate Communications, for Detective Constable Jason Muto, Fraud Unit