Scammers pose as Calgary police officers in cryptocurrency scams

We are warning the public about scammers who are claiming to be Calgary police officers while bilking citizens out of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency scams.  

Over the past several weeks, the Calgary Police Service has become aware of incidents involving scammers who are claiming to be “Calgary police officers” in an attempt to convince citizens they owe thousands of dollars in legal fees.

In most scenarios, scammers claim to be a family member who has been arrested and the phony officer demands money for lawyer fees, sometimes even spoofing the phone numbers of loved ones to make the situation appear legitimate. Other reports include scammers posing as officers who are allegedly trying to help victims recover lost funds through a third party “cyber agency,” in exchange for an exorbitant fee.

Payment is almost always requested in the form of Bitcoin.

We are reminding citizens they can verify an officer’s identity by requesting to see the individual’s police badge and police photo identification card or ask for their badge number. Citizens can also call the police non-emergency number to verify an officer’s identity.

Scammers often use high-pressure and fear-based tactics in order to receive payment quickly. Do not feel pressured to provide money to strangers and take the time to talk to trusted friends and family to verify the legitimacy of the situation.

Anyone with information about these types of fraud is asked to contact Calgary Police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips