Gatineau Police Issue Urgent Warning About Phone Scam Impersonating Officers
The Gatineau Police Service has issued a critical public advisory regarding a concerning telephone scam where fraudsters are impersonating police officers. According to official reports, approximately 50 instances of this deceptive scheme were documented in February alone, following five similar cases opened in January.
Alarming Increase in Fraud Cases
These 50 cases contributed to a total of 60 fraud investigations initiated this month, highlighting a significant surge in criminal activity targeting residents. The police media release further revealed that nearly 100 such incidents were reported throughout 2025, indicating a persistent and growing threat to community safety.
Most victims of this sophisticated fraud have been identified as seniors between the ages of 71 and 84, making this demographic particularly vulnerable to these manipulative tactics. The scammers exploit trust in law enforcement to extract sensitive information and financial details from unsuspecting individuals.
How the Scam Operates and Official Police Guidance
In these fraudulent calls, perpetrators claim to be police officers and inform recipients that they have become victims of a crime. They then attempt to gather personal identification cards, numbers, or request victims to increase their credit limits under false pretenses.
Gatineau police have emphasized crucial distinctions between legitimate police procedures and scam tactics:
- Legitimate officers would never ask fraud victims to hand over personal identification or increase credit limits
- Authentic police would instead advise victims to immediately contact their banks to cancel compromised cards
- While some property might be returned during investigations, police do not handle reimbursement of stolen funds
Protective Measures and Immediate Actions
The police advisory provides clear instructions for anyone receiving suspicious calls:
- Immediately hang up if someone claiming to be a police officer informs you of being a crime victim
- Contact your local police station directly using verified contact information
- Never provide personal information, credit/debit card numbers, or personal identification numbers to unverified callers
Verifying caller identity is essential before sharing any sensitive information, as legitimate law enforcement agencies follow established protocols that don't involve unsolicited requests for personal or financial details over the phone.
This warning comes as part of broader efforts to combat financial fraud and protect vulnerable community members from increasingly sophisticated criminal schemes that exploit public trust in authority figures.
