For many of us, cell phones are an important part of our lives. It’s not just a communication device but it also enables us to store photos, organize our schedule, and connect with friends and family. Unfortunately scammers are also using cell phones as a tool. In this blog post, we would like to share examples of these types of scams.
Before we begin, we would like to credit the Competition Bureau and their Little Black Book of Scams for some of the information in this blog post.
Here are some of the common scams that you may encounter on your cell phone:
Missed call scams
Scammers will call your phone and hang up so quickly that you can’t answer the call in time. Your phone registers a missed call and you probably won’t recognize the number. You may be tempted to call the number to find out who called you. If it is a scam, you may have to pay premium rates for the call without knowing.
Text message scams
These scams work through a Short Message Service (SMS). Scammers send you a text message from a number you may not recognize, but it sounds like it is from a friend—for instance, “Hi, it’s John. I’m back! When are you free to catch up?” If you reply out of curiosity, you may be charged at premium rate for SMS messages (sometimes as much as $4 for each message sent and/or received).
Ransom scams
You may know of malware that freezes your computer – this scam works the same way but on your cell phone. For instance, you may be browsing on the Internet on your smartphone and suddenly your screen freezes. It may say things like “your phone is locked due to the violation of the federal laws” and ask for your prepaid credit card number and PIN to unfreeze your phone. If you hand over the information, scammers will drain the money from your pre-paid card and disappear.
So how do you protect yourself from all of these potential scams? Remember to never reply to texts or calls from numbers that you do not recognize. Also before taking any actions, ask yourself “could this be a scam? What is my gut telling me?” and proceed with caution. If you are still unsure, ask around. Your friends and family may have experienced something similar.
Consumer Protection BC does not have authority over the telecommunications industry or scams. If you think you have been affected by a cell phone scam or any other scams and frauds, please report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre here.
We hope this information was helpful!
ADDITIONAL READING:
Own a cellphone? You need to know about ‘smishing’
OMG! Watch out for texting scams
613 927 9177
was scam or not ?
Hi Sonny, thank you for your question. Consumer Protection BC does not have any authority when it comes to cell phone scams and we are not in a position to determine if the call was a scam. Like the blog post suggests, I would not reply to a text or phone call from a number that I do not recognize. I hope this helps. Best of luck!
I just got a voicemail from a very robotic male voice (with an accent on top of it) stating there is a complaint about me from CRA for tax evasion and fraud. Either myself or my attorney should call this number in Ajax, Ontario. It’s a scam of course, CRA doesn’t operate that way but beware people. Tax evasion and fraud are scary words and I’m sure some do call back.
Hi, I just got a phone call from 226-312-3370 Ontario and when i answered there was an automated message saying that CRA has filed a complaint against me…I hung up, didn’t even listen the whole thing as i’m pretty sure it’s a scam.
I received a voice mail message on my cell phone stating ‘it was Canada Revenue Centre calling……and if I did not return this call immediately, an officer – local police or RCMP, will come to my home with a warrent for my arrest”..This number 343-500-1180 on April 27, 2018. I tried to report this fraud on CRA website but it asked for me to sign on with my local banking information!! I’m not giving that info out online.
This is exactly the same call I just got on my cell phone too! The number was 778 613 2005 on April 27, 2018. All I could think about was some poor soul is going to believe this scam. Not sure how they can be stopped or reported.
This is exactly the same robotic call / voicemail, I just got on my cell phone too! The number was 877 420 5244 on May 9th, 2018.
I just got a phone call too. Same robotic man’s voice explaining a law suite against me…1-226-215-4436.
May 11, 2018
Got robot call from V51412551900199. Same robotic voice as above with similar message …
May 14, 2018
Hi I just got a call on my cell phone saying that I will be arrested but a robot female, said from CRC. For tax evasion 250-800-3888 Victoria BC number
Of course the CRA would never make calls like these and mine came from a male voice who did not identify himself by name and claimed that a lawsuit under my name was being initiated and that I would be arrested if I didnt’t return his call. Oh my! Watch out for this number:
1 450 877-2011
When I did a number search it was from an internet company in Granville, QC
Just got the same call, claiming I have a warrant for my arrest. Its the second call. I got one in January of this year too. The number was a port perry ontario number 613 975 9844. Someone needs to stop these scammers!
I just got this message on my cell phone from 613-604-2676
I think people should know how to identify these scammers. Thank you for sharing such information. We all need to know about them. I have read hundreds or maybe thousands of complaints, reports, and warnings filed online about these scams, like at http://whycall.me and another websites. Beware of such scams, folks.
Sept. 26/18
i received a call today and let it go to voice mail. It contains a recorded message,the threat of arrest immediately due to a CRA lawsuit in my name.
from 705 820 9956
Sept 19
received a very similar message by voice mail as above.
from 519 901 3807
The scammers now use genuine CRA toll free numbers that show on your call display.
The robotic threatening voice is still the same.
It is getting ridiculous now, wondering why authorities can’t find these scammers and arrest them.
I just got a call today Oct 17 saying to call right away me or my lawyer from number 780 816 0452
I got a voice mail message that sounds robotic from no. 1 604 265 8965 on Oct. 14/19. It’s an arrest threat call too. I was just curious to find the owner of that number; though, I am confident it’s a scam call. The number is from North Van and its carrier is Irestel.
PLZ CAN SOMEONE ANSWER ME THIS 🙏 🥺
WOULD SERVICE CANADA (NOT CRA, YES SERVICE CANADA!!) LEAVE A VOICEMAIL ON A SUNDAY !? AND THE CHICK SOUNDED UBER SURE OF HERSELF AND ALMOST ANNOYED THAT I DIDNT ANSEER HER SUNDAY AFTERNOON NO CALLER ID CALL 🙄
1. She provided no name.
2. Not a reason her calling. This chick verbatim said six words snd then hung up on my voice mails face lmao 😂
There’s two possibles as to my SC would be calling and they both directly impact one another ( CRCB Application is listed As finalized In CRA my account, but the amount box is gone and the application
Is no longer clickable. I’m assuming this is the reason SC would be calling (eligibility requires one not to have applied for or received EI or any other benefit for the one week period of eligibility that you’re applying with via the CANADA RECOVERY CAREGIVER BENEFIT APPLICATION PROCESS.
I am currently receiving EI, but I did not, in fact, apply
For or receive any other provincial or federal benefit during the selected one week period ASSosciates with your CRCB application, so technically, I’m eligible. And I was not planning on applying for any other week other than the one week where I was just unemployed without a a source of income, because I did apply and /or receive provincial benefits after the week of having no i income, ergo I would. Not meet the eligibility requirements to apply for more than one available week of eligibility for the CRCB. It’s doin me a. Concern 🙁
Hi Aram, thank you for reaching out to us. We are unfamiliar with any federal programs such as CRCB so we do not know if they contact you on the weekend but you can call them and find out if they were trying to get a hold of you. I found their contact information, including their phone number, on their website here. Their call centre seems to be open Monday to Saturday. Good luck!