RCMP warn of phone scams in Manitoba

Manitoba RCMP are warning the public of a recent telephone scam.

RCMP say two people from southwestern Manitoba were called from someone claiming to be from the Canada Border Services Agency, Canada Revenue Agency and as someone impersonating a police officer.

In the first call, the caller told the individuals that a package containing drugs, money and fake documents was intercepted at the border.

The person had recently made orders on Amazon and was expecting their delivery when the call came in. RCMP say the caller phoned more times asking the individual to make payments. Following payments, they received additional calls asking for more money.

In another case, RCMP say someone received a call from “police” telling them a family member was in a collision and was at the police station until money was sent.

Both Manitobans were defrauded of more than $34,000.

“No police agency or other government agency will request you send monetary payments to them by way of mail, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or QR codes,” RCMP said in a statement. “This is a scam, and the callers usually use pressure tactics and threaten the victim if they don’t pay forthwith.”