Residents of Greater Sudbury are facing a disturbing new threat that's making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between legitimate police calls and sophisticated fraud attempts. The Sudbury Police Service has issued an urgent warning about scammers who are now spoofing the service's actual phone number to appear more convincing to their targets.
This alarming tactic allows fraudsters to display the legitimate police non-emergency number (705-675-9171) on victims' caller IDs, creating a false sense of security and making the scam calls appear authentic. The psychological impact of seeing a trusted police number pop up on your phone cannot be overstated—it immediately lowers defenses and increases the likelihood of compliance.
How the scam operates
The fraudulent calls typically follow a familiar pattern designed to create panic and urgency. Scammers often claim:
- There are outstanding warrants for your arrest
- You owe money to government agencies
- Your social insurance number has been compromised
- Immediate payment is required to avoid legal consequences
"When people see our actual phone number displayed, they understandably let their guard down," explained a police spokesperson. "This is what makes this particular scam so dangerous and effective."
Protecting yourself from phone fraud
Sudbury Police emphasize that legitimate police services will never:
- Demand immediate payment over the phone
- Request cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers
- Threaten immediate arrest for unpaid fines
- Ask for sensitive personal information unexpectedly
If you receive a suspicious call that appears to come from police headquarters, authorities recommend hanging up immediately and contacting the Sudbury Police Service directly at 705-675-9171 to verify the call's authenticity. Never provide personal information, financial details, or make payments based on unsolicited calls.
The police service is working with telecommunications providers and law enforcement partners to address this growing concern, but public awareness remains the first line of defense against these increasingly sophisticated phone scams.
