This bulletin was created to provide awareness regarding a new twist with Extortion Scams currently targeting Chinese Communities and tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
Be cautious when answering automated calls with an urgent message. The Asian community in Canada is being targeted with calls claiming to be the Beijing Police, Interpol, the Chinese Consulate or in some cases a delivery agency. There are different variations in the scam calls. They will involve a message that claims a letter or package in your name was intercepted, and implicates you in the fraud. For example, the message will state, “a suspicious package containing numerous bank cards has been stopped at customs and you are the subject of an investigation”. The suspect may also direct you to go to a fake “Police” website to verify your identity, which includes providing a copy of your passport. In some cases, the fraudsters will also say that you have fraudulent funds in your account. They will ask for your banking information for verification. These calls can be very intimidating and threatening. Please hang up and report the incident to your nearest police department or the Canadian Anti‐Fraud Centre.
Warning Signs – How to Protect Yourself
- Do not trust your call display. It may say "Police”. In reality, it may be an actual scammer. It does not matter what the caller ID says, you cannot trust it.
- If you get an urgent call from someone stating they represent a company or a government agency seeking personal information, hang up. Call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book or on the company or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request.
- Never give out personal information in response to unexpected calls. This includes account numbers, social insurance number (SIN), mother's maiden name, passport information, passwords or any information about your identity.
If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti‐Fraud Centre at 1-888‐495‐8501 or report online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca
This document is the property of the CAFC. It is loaned to your agency/department in confidence and it is not to be reclassified, copied, reproduced, used or further disseminated, in whole or part, without the consent of the originator. It is not to be used in affidavits, court proceedings or subpoenas or for any other legal or judicial purposes. This caveat is an integral part of this document and must accompany any information extracted from it.