Regina police warn of phone scammers impersonating officers

The Regina Police Service is warning residents about callers who pose as police officers or service employees and try to collect personal or financial information by phone.

In an advisory dated Oct. 16, police said they have received several reports of the scam. The calls appear to come from the service’s non-emergency line, 306-777-6500. The release does not say how many reports came in, when the calls were made or whether anyone lost money.

According to the advisory, the caller says they are investigating fraudulent activity. The caller then tries to get personal or financial details from the person who answered.

Police say the service will never phone anyone to ask for money, for any reason. The advisory tells residents not to share personal information on an unsolicited call and not to send money to people they do not know. It adds that residents can say no and hang up.

Anyone who receives such a call should ask for the caller’s name and badge number, hang up, and phone 306-777-6500 directly to check whether the contact was genuine, the release says. Police also ask residents to pass the warning along to people they know.

Residents who believe they have been victimized, or who suspect someone is trying to defraud them, should contact police right away at the same number. The advisory does not mention any suspects or arrests.