Police warn public about phone scam

BY JOHN DECOSTE

jdecoste@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Kings RCMP are warning the public about a telephone scam targeting residents of Kings County.

The RCMP say people have been receiving calls from someone impersonating a police officer. During the conversation, the person is told a family member has been injured in a car crash. In order to get more information about the collision, the person is asked to call a phone number starting with ‘*72’.

Do not call this number, police say, as your phone “will become practically useless.”

It also provides the suspects with free rein to make long distance calls anywhere in the world – and you get the bill.

If a person has already fallen victim to this scam and dialed the ‘*72’ number, dialing ‘*73’ will return control of the phone line to its owner.

The RCMP are asking people to call them only if they have fallen victim to this and have likely been defrauded of money. PhoneBusters has been contacted about this scam, which is originating out of the United States.