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Kelowna  

Oops, scammer calls a cop

Dozens of Okanagan residents have been receiving fraudulent – and threatening – Canada Revenue Agency calls lately. But, scammers dialed the wrong number in Kelowna.

An RCMP officer was targeted by a scammer while at work at the local detachment.

“A Mountie became the intended target of the CRA scam,” says RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The scammer then turned hostile and threatened to issue arrest warrants and file lawsuits, when the officer identified himself.”

The scam involves callers claiming to be from the CRA, threatening arrest if money isn't paid by credit card, or even prepaid gift cards.

“Hanging up the phone is the best course of action you can take,” says O’Donaghey.

“You do not need to call your local police if you have only received a scam phone call. We ask that you call your local police only if you have been victimized by the scam.”

Police remind the public that the CRA will never request prepaid credit cards or gift cards as payment.



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