Scam phone call season is now in effect | Opinion

Person holding smart phone with unknown caller on the screen. Photo by SADI MARIA /GETTY IMAGES

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In the past few weeks and months, I have been bombarded with scam calls trying to pick my pocket, and they have been so incessant I’m left wondering if I am being targeted, or it is just the luck of the draw.

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The calls just keep coming from different phone numbers purporting to represent financial and other institutions, all trying to warn me that something is amiss, and requires my immediate attention. A purported call from ‘RBC Account Support’ wanted to warn me about suspicious withdrawals and wanted my account number to “cross-check with their records” to make sure everything was okay. The problem? I don’t have an RBC account. Another call from ‘Apple Technical Support’ warned of suspicious activity around my online banking, except I don’t have an online account. And why Apple, a tech company, will call about banking issues, beats me. A fake Canada Post call said a package waiting for me has raised security concerns, and I needed to provide some personal information to help sort out the problem and release the package.

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I’ve had scam calls before, years ago, mainly from people claiming to be CRA employees, and warning that I owe the government money, and if I didn’t pay immediately police would be coming for me. All the calls follow a predictable pattern: The scammers ask you to press 1 to speak to a supervisor, and if you do, are connected to a smooth-talking person who speaks with authority. Often, the supervisor would give you a badge number, which is fake of course, but hopes it would make the scammer more credible.

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One day two weeks ago, I got three calls from different numbers with Ottawa area codes — all warning me about somebody trying to access my accounts, or money being withdrawn. All they needed was some personal information to assist in their investigation. The phone numbers are all fake of course. When I called back, the phones rang forever and no one picked up.

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One time, I answered the phone and the voice on the other side explained the problem and passed me on to a ‘supervisor’ who explained quite believably that people are out there trying to fleece others, and their job is to try and warn potential victims to be vigilant. He simply wanted some personal information, including my bank account number, to make sure I have not authorized withdrawals. He just wanted to protect my interests, he said. I asked why he needed my bank account number because if he represents the bank, he should have the account number right in front of him. We went back and forth for a while, and sensing that I may not be a willing victim, he threatened to leave me to the mercy of the scammers. I rained expletives on him and he just laughed and hung up.

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Of course, not everyone is aware of scammers’ tactics and can protect themselves. Many people fall victim to these schemes, giving private information to strangers only to see their life savings disappear.

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The good news is that there is that a lot of information now warning people about scammers. Banks routinely post warnings to not give personal information to strangers. Your tax documents from the Canadian Revenue Agency include information that tells you that CRA doesn’t ask for personal information by phone or bank account numbers. And the media is full of stories about scams. And yet many people, especially seniors living alone, continue to fall victim to these scams. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, these fraudulent schemes have cost Canadians more than $600 million in 2024 and $2 billion since 2021.

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The scammers obviously are part of international networks and hard for the police to investigate. The most important deterrent however, is personal vigilance. Everybody should have an unbreakable personal rule: Don’t give personal information of any kind to strangers. It will save you from financial ruin.

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Unless I am just an outlier, beware that the scammers are busy at work.

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Mohammed Adam is an Ottawa journalist and commentator. Reach him at [email protected]

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