TORONTO: The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has issued an urgent public safety warning regarding a surge in “Bank Investigator” phone scams, which have already cost numerous city residents thousands of dollars. Police state that the sophisticated fraud involves callers impersonating bank officials.
The scam begins with “spoofed” phone calls designed to appear legitimate, making victims believe they are speaking directly with their bank. The fraudsters induce panic by claiming the victim’s account is under threat, and then proceed to extract sensitive personal information, such as passwords and PINs.
To finalize the deception, victims are instructed to package their debit and credit cards in an envelope for “further investigation.” The scammers then use a rideshare or parcel delivery application to send an unwitting driver to collect the envelope from the victim. The driver, unaware of the criminal plot, delivers the package to a designated pickup location, where a member of the fraud group retrieves it, completing the theft.
Police are urging the public to exercise extreme caution, emphasizing that legitimate banks will never request personal passwords, PINs, or physical cards to be handed over via phone or a courier service. Residents should hang up immediately and report the suspicious activity.
