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The Barrie Police Service is warning residents after receiving multiple reports of scammers impersonating police officers by using the department’s main phone number.
On Thursday, July 16, several people reported receiving threatening calls that appeared to come from the Barrie Police Service’s main number, 705-725-7025.
In some cases, the caller claimed to be an officer and attempted to obtain personal information or made false claims involving the recipient or a family member. Others reported receiving repeated calls or voicemails from callers who refused to provide a name, badge number, or reason for contacting them.
Investigators say the calls are part of a caller ID spoofing scam, where fraudsters manipulate phone numbers to make them appear legitimate in an effort to intimidate victims into sharing personal or financial information.
Barrie Police remind the public they will never call to demand payment, request banking information, or threaten arrest or jail over the phone.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged not to engage with the caller, hang up immediately, and report the incident to the Barrie Police Service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
