Residents across Saanich and Greater Victoria are being warned to be alert after the Saanich Police Service received multiple reports of fraudulent telephone calls that claim to come from the department.
Impersonation scam uses Saanich non-emergency number
Investigators say the calls involve people purporting to be Saanich police officers and — in a detail that makes the scheme especially convincing — the incoming caller ID appears to show the force’s non-emergency number. Call recipients are reportedly asked for personal or financial information.
“These calls are scams,” said Jason Hallman, communications advisor with Saanich Police.
“Saanich Police will not ask for financial or personal information over the phone.”
Police say complaints have not been confined to Saanich. Reports have come from residents throughout the Greater Victoria region and as far away as the Lower Mainland, indicating the fraudsters are casting a wide net.
What Saanich residents should do
The force is asking anyone who receives one of the suspicious calls to hang up immediately and report the incident. Saanich Police have provided a direct line for reporting and a file number to reference.
- Hang up if a caller asks for financial or personal information.
- Do not provide banking details, social insurance numbers, or other sensitive data over the phone.
- Report the call to Saanich Police at (250) 475-4321, citing file number 26-18996.
The warning underscores growing concerns about technology-assisted impersonation. Caller ID spoofing allows scammers to make it look as though their call is coming from a trusted number, increasing the likelihood that recipients will engage and, in some cases, turn over sensitive information.
Local context and consequences
For Saanich residents, the advisory is a reminder that public-safety numbers can be abused to lend false legitimacy to scams. Even experienced phone users can be caught off-guard when the incoming number appears familiar. The immediate risk is financial loss or identity theft; the broader consequence is erosion of trust in legitimate outreach from public agencies.
Reporting these incidents helps police investigators identify patterns and the scope of the scheme. Documentation also assists in protecting others: aggregated reports can be used to alert the public and coordinate with other agencies and phone carriers to try to limit spoofed traffic.
| What to do | Contact |
|---|---|
| Report scam call | (250) 475-4321 (Saanich Police) |
| Reference file | File number 26-18996 |
Police communications staff reiterated the simple message: do not provide sensitive details by phone. For those uncertain whether a call is authentic, residents can independently call the non-emergency line shown on the police website to verify any outreach.
As investigators continue to gather reports, Saanich Police ask the public to remain vigilant and to help neighbours and vulnerable people who may be targeted by the same scam. Timely reporting can reduce harm and assist investigators working to track the source and methods of the fraud.
