Kingston Police warn of current telephone scam posing as VISA security department

A telephone scam has been brought to the attention of Kingston Police over the past week. The suspicious automated call states that it is the security department at VISA calling and then indicates that there have been fraudulent transactions made to your account that need to be rectified, according to a release from Kingston Police.

“As the initial call is automated, you are then asked to press a number which takes you to a live operator, who is actually the scammer,” said Constable Ash Gutheinz, Kingston Police Media Relations Officer – C.O.R.E. Unit. “This scammer will then attempt to obtain personal information about you while posing under the guise of being a VISA credit card security department representative. If you provide them with this elicited information they can later attempt to use it for their own financial gain or to steal your identity.”

Kingston Police warn the public to avoid providing any personal information to these scammers which may include a Social Insurance Number, credit card or banking information, or name and address. They advise anyone who receives a call to simply hang up on the scammer after indicating that their call will be reported to the police. If the calls persist contact Kingston Police to report the incidents.

If you have been a victim of this fraudulent scam contact the Kingston Police at 613-549-4660 or complete an online report by visiting the Kingston Police website page at www.kingstonpolice.ca.

Incidents can also be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) on their website at www.antifraudcentre.ca or by calling (toll free) 1-888-495-8501. This agency collects information relating to frauds and works closely with police to solve these crimes, according to Kingston Police.