NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE
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Waterloo Regional Police Service is issuing a warning after receiving reports of fraudulent phone calls purporting to be from Waterloo Regional Police’s non-emergency number.
In one instance, on March 3, 2025, a Wilmot Township man received a phone call from an unknown male who identified himself as a police officer and provided the name of an existing WRPS Fraud Unit investigator. The fraudster also used a spoofing tool to hide the number he was calling from and to display WRPS’ non-emergency number (519-570-9777) on the victim’s caller ID.
The fraudster told the victim that his bank accounts were linked to criminal activity and would be frozen if he hung up.
No financial losses were sustained.
The investigation is ongoing.
In this type of scam, a fraudster uses caller ID spoofing to disguise their phone number and to display the number of another individual or legitimate organization, such as Waterloo Regional Police.
The fraudster may also suggest the victim conduct an internet search for a legitimate organization to see that the number they are calling from is the same and, therefore, “safe.”
The victim is then advised that their account(s) or personal information has been linked to criminal activity and that investigators require cooperation. The fraudster attempts to keep the victim on the phone and threatens the person that they will be arrested, face a fine, or have their bank account(s) frozen if they hang up and do not cooperate.
Waterloo Regional Police would like to remind the public that police and other governmental agencies will not demand payment for your financial information and will not threaten or attempt to extort you if you do not comply with a caller’s demands.
To help prevent being a victim of a caller ID scam, please consider the following tips:
- Do not trust what appears on your caller ID display. When in doubt, hang up the phone, find the phone number of the legitimate agency and call them to verify the information provided.
- Never provide personal identity information, such as your address, banking information, Social Insurance Number (SIN) or passwords, over the phone.
- Use a caller ID spoofing app which can help you identify and block spoofed calls.
If you believe you have been the victim of this scam and have shared personal identity information, financial information, and/or sent money, please report it to police by calling 519-570-9777. You can also file a report online at https://www.wrps.on.ca/en/services-reporting/online-reporting-.aspx.
If you have received a fraudulent phone call, but have not provided personal information or sent money, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or report online at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm.
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