Immigrants in Kelowna being threatened with deportation by scammers, police say

| October 17, 2019 in Kelowna

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Immigrants in Kelowna are being targeted by scammers, police have warned. 

Mounties said the scam involves a call from a person pretending to work for Service Canada. 

The scammer threatens the immigrant with deportation if they do not pay thousands of dollars in Bitcoin. 

It is based around a lie that the victim’s Social Insurance Number has been compromised. 

“This recent scam is concerning as the caller ID number shown is the phone number [for] the Kelowna RCMP Detachment,” said Cst Lesley Smith.

“We are asking the public that should they receive a call from someone identifying themselves as a Service Canada employee and they demand money, to hang up the phone. 

“Service Canada will not call you and demand money and will NOT arrest you or have the powers of deportation.”

She added: “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.”

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