Phone scam spoofing Kelowna RCMPs non-emergency line targets Canadians

Published 9:09 pm Friday, October 16, 2026 Individuals across Canada are receiving calls from someone alleging to be an RCMP officer, and the number appears to originate from the Kelowna detachment’s legitimate non-emergency line. These calls are a phone scam, where the fraudster appears genuinely connected to the Kelowna RCMP, in order to deceive individuals into providing sensitive personal and financial information. After receiving a significant number of reports from people claiming to have received fraudulent calls from the Kelowna RCMP non-emergency line, police are alerting the public to an ongoing scam involving fraudsters spoofing the detachment’s non-emergency phone number, 250-762-3300. According to Cpl. Allison Konsmo, the fraudulent caller falsely identifies themselves as an RCMP officer and claims police have a person in custody who is allegedly in possession of their personal information. “The caller then attempts to persuade the victim to click on a link and provide sensitive information, including passwords, account details, and other personal information,” said Cpl. Konsmo. The RCMP will not: • Request passwords, banking information, or other sensitive personal information over the phone,• Direct you to click on links to verify or update your accounts,• Ask you to transfer money or make payments as part of an investigation,• Request that you provide financial information to secure your accounts. “These calls are not originating from the Kelowna RCMP, despite what may appear on caller ID,” said Cpl. Konsmo. “We want to remind the public that caller ID information can be manipulated and should not be relied upon as proof of who is calling.” Anyone who receives one of these calls is encouraged to hang up immediately and avoid engaging with the caller. If you are unsure whether a call from police is legitimate, disconnect and contact your local police agency using a publicly listed phone number. If you are a victim of fraud, please contact the Kelowna RCMP non-emergency line at 250-762-3300. For more information on fraud or to report an incident with them, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website for more details.