The Town of Qualicum Beach says their phone number is being used as a spoof in phone scams through the region lately. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

be aware

Popular phone scam targeting Qualicum Beach residents

Jul 7, 2023 | 9:37 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A well-known phone scam is making the rounds, using property tax time and reputation of a local government in an effort to deceive people.

The Town of Qualicum Beach has reported several instances of scammers ‘spoofing’ the Town’s phone number when trying to scam people.

Spoofing is a technique to change a phone number appearing on caller ID displays, making someone believe a call is coming from a legitimate source.

Callers have been asking for financial or other sensitive information, something the Town notes it would never do over the phone.

“Never share personal, financial, or sensitive information over the phone unless you’ve initiated the call and you’re sure of the recipient’s identity,” the Town said in a release. “If you receive a suspicious call that appears to be from the Town, hang up. Do not interact with the caller or respond to prompts.”

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Similar scams have been used locally and around the world for years.

In December 2021, the Oceanside RCMP detachment’s phone number was used to spoof scam calls involving Bitcoin transactions.

A list of prolific scams being monitored by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, along with ways to avoid becoming a victim, is available on their website.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Popular phone scam targeting Qualicum Beach residents

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