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Beware of the rising trend in police impersonation scams

February 14, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Ontario Provincial Police is alerting residents across the region about an emerging scam in which suspects pose as police officers to defraud victims of substantial sums of money.

In recent reports, fraudsters have contacted victims by phone, claiming to be members of the OPP.

In each case, the suspect used fabricated names, titles, and badge information to gain credibility.

Victims were instructed to withdraw large sums of money and either send the funds through cryptocurrency platforms or hand over cash directly.

These tactics have resulted in significant financial losses, including incidents where victims paid between $6,000 and $13,000 to individuals falsely claiming to be police officers.

Police confirm that the names and ranks provided by the scammers do not correspond with any OPP members.

Fraudsters used urgency, intimidation, and fear to pressure victims into complying with their demands.

To protect yourself against police impersonation scams, the OPP is reminding the public of the following fraud prevention strategies:

· Police will never request money, cryptocurrency, gift cards or financial transfers over the phone.

· Police will never demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or pressure you to act urgently.

· Do not provide personal information, banking details, PINs, or identification numbers to unsolicited callers.

· Pause and talk to a trusted family member or friend before making any financial decision under pressure.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be an OPP officer and you are unsure of its legitimacy, you can contact the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.

This number can be used to:

· Confirm whether an officer has attempted to contact you.

· Report suspicious calls or attempted fraud.

· Speak directly with the police about fraud-related concerns.

Residents who have been targeted or victimized by fraud are encouraged to contact police and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

Police continue to monitor fraud trends and remind community members that awareness is one of the strongest tools against financial victimization.

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