Man charged in bank investigator fraud scam that impersonated police and financial institutions
The Calgary Police Service Financial Crime Investigation Unit's Fraud Team has charged one man in relation to a bank investigator fraud scam in which offenders allegedly impersonated financial institutions and Calgary police officers using caller ID spoofing technology.
Between Saturday, June 7, 2025, and Monday, July 14, 2025, the Calgary Police Service received several reports of bank investigator fraud scams.
In these scams, offenders use caller ID spoofing technology to display legitimate financial institution customer service telephone numbers on victims' caller ID. The calls appear to originate from the victims' financial institution. Offenders then falsely claim unauthorized transactions have compromised the victims' accounts and linked them to criminal activity.
Victims are then directed to speak with individuals posing as Calgary police officers and instructed to place their bank cards in envelopes for courier pickup from their homes. The cards and associated banking information are then used to conduct unauthorized ATM withdrawals and point-of-sale purchases.
Through CCTV footage, investigators identified a suspect allegedly purchasing and redeeming gift cards. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026.
As a result, Imani Lionel CROSS, 26, of Calgary, is charged with one count of fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and one count of laundering the proceeds of crime. CROSS was also arrested on an outstanding warrant.
CROSS is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.
By the numbers:
Bank and police impersonation scams continue to be an emerging trend across Canada and are not isolated to Calgary or the Calgary Police Service. We have also seen offenders pose as RCMP officers and direct victims to transfer cryptocurrency or deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs. Police services across the country continue to investigate these scams and work to identify and hold those responsible accountable.
In 2025, we received 24 reports involving both bank and police impersonation, compared with seven reports so far in 2026.
For police impersonation scams specifically, we received 171 reports in 2025, compared with 27 reports so far in 2026.
The 2026 statistics are current as of Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.
We continue to encourage Calgarians to remain vigilant when contacted by anyone claiming to represent a financial institution, police service or another trusted organization. Police will never ask you to send money, transfer cryptocurrency or deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM as part of an investigation.
Fraud prevention tips:
The Calgary Police Service reminds citizens that:
· Financial institutions and police will never ask you to mail bank cards, provide banking credentials, send money or make purchases as part of an investigation.
· Be cautious of unexpected calls, emails or text messages claiming to be from your bank, police or another trusted organization. Fraudsters can spoof phone numbers and create convincing messages that appear legitimate.
· When in doubt, delete suspicious messages or hang up, then contact the organization directly using an official phone number or website to verify the request.
· Never share personal information, banking information, passwords or verification codes with an unsolicited caller or sender.
· If you feel pressured to act immediately or something does not seem right, stop the conversation and speak with a trusted friend, family member or co-worker before taking any action.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
Case #: CA25337952