POLICE – Fake officer’s name used in scam involving traffic violation

Kamloops RCMP are warning the public of a scam involving a text from a fake police officer.

Over the last two days the Kamloops RCMP detachment has received about nine reports of scams involving a traffic violation ticket using a name of a police officer that does not exist.  The link goes to a request to provide credit card information in order to pay for a traffic ticket.

“Do not click on the link in the text message,” said Cpl. Dana Napier.  “The police do not reach out to the public to seek payment or personal banking information, including credit cards, whether for a violation ticket or any other matter.

“A text message containing a request for this type of information by someone pretending to be a police officer is a scam and should be ignored.”

People are advised to keep private information private and follow these tips:

• Call your nearest police detachment to verify the police officer
• Call your nearest police detachment to verify what the associated file number or violation ticket is
• Do not give out personal information such as banking, credit card, Social Insurance Number
• Do not click on the link

Scams and frauds can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre . For more information about different types of scams and fraud please visit Frauds and scams | Royal Canadian Mounted Police.