Edson residents are being informed of an apparent increase in phone scams.
Officials with the Town of Edson say they have been made aware of fraudulent phone calls involving spoofed local numbers.
Spoofing is when a scammer hides their identity using a device that displays a number different to the one they are actually calling from. These scammers usually claim to work for government agencies and will ask for personal information or for payments to be made in an unusual manner, such as gift cards, bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Residents are being told to remain vigilant for these calls and to hang up if they suspect they may be talking to a scammer.
Officials have also provided the following tips to help guard against scams.
- Never assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate.
- Never give out personal information such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or your date of birth (DOB) over the phone.
- Call the company or agency in question directly, if you receive a text message or email. Make sure you research their contact information and don’t use the information provided in the first message.
- Never click on links received via text message or email.
- When visiting a website, always verify the URL and domain to make sure you are on the official website.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam is being asked to contact their local RCMP detachment or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
