Lake Cowichan Mounties are dealing with a fairly peculiar crime: The detachmentB次元官网网址檚 own phone line being used by spoofing B次元官网网址 a type of security attack that involves scammers disguising their identity to trick people to answering a call.
Since the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 18, the detachment has received a number of reports that people have been called from the line. Caller ID will display as Lake Cowichan RCMP, however, when the individual answers the phone, the caller hangs up. In cases where the call is missed, no message is left.
B次元官网网址淲e want to reassure the public that if someone from the Lake Cowichan RCMP and is trying to reach you, we would not hang up when you answer, and would leave a message asking you to return our call,B次元官网网址 said Lake Cowichan RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Lita Watson.
B次元官网网址淭hese calls are now directly impacting public ability to reach the Lake Cowichan detachment and we are hopeful this is not a purposeful, or malicious tactic being used to flood our phone lines and tie up our resources. The Lake Cowichan RCMP has launched a public mischief investigation and we are actively investigating.B次元官网网址
Anyone who receives a call from 250-749-6668 where no message is left should not return the call. If an officer needs to contact someone, they will leave a message or make another attempt to call.
Anyone who needs to file a police report with the Lake Cowichan RCMP and can not reach the detachment by phone should visit the detachment at 70 Stanley Road and make a report in person.