Police warn of phone scammers imitating Windsor police officers

The Windsor Police Service logo on a wall in a board room at headquarters. (Dalson Chen/CBC - image credit)
The Windsor Police Service logo on a wall in a board room at headquarters. (Dalson Chen/CBC - image credit)

The Windsor Police Service is warning people to beware of telephone scammers posing as Windsor police officers.

They say scammers are spoofing the caller ID of the Windsor Police Service in hopes of obtaining money and personal information from victims.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the WPS says scammers tell victims that they are facing some sort of penalty and that an arrest warrant will be issued unless they transfer large sums of money.

They may attempt to intimidate or pressure victims into sending money or providing sensitive information.

Police say anyone who receives such a call should stay calm and not fall prey to intimidation.

Instead, they should hang up and contact the Windsor Police Service non-emergency line at 519-258-6111 to verify the caller's authenticity.

Anyone who suspects they've received a scam call should also report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

The WPS says police will never demand payment or sensitive details over the phone, and nobody should send money or provide personal information that way.