OLDS — Olds RCMP are warning residents to watch out for a phishing scam being sent out via a text message.
"Olds RCMP has received many inquiries from the public regarding an unsolicited text message being received," police said in a press release issued Monday.
Scammers are sending fictitious "RCMP Delivery Notice" messages, according to police.
The texts say that RCMP have been unable to deliver court documents and ask recipients of the text to "please reschedule the delivery to avoid missing your court date by using the link below."
Police say the RCMP does not issue notices by text messages. RCMP members may however correspond with clients via texts, depending on the situation, police say.
Residents who are concerned with the authenticity of any messages originating from the RCMP are encouraged to contact their local RCMP detachment to confirm the legitimacy of the message.
Criminals create a sense of urgency and have the ability to spoof phone numbers and websites to make them appear very authentic, police say. If you receive a suspicious text message, police say protect yourself by:
• Don't respond to unknown phone numbers;
• Don't provide any personal information, including your name, date of birth, phone number, email, address or banking details;
• Don't click on links sent to you from an unverified source;
• Access government agency websites through official links; the RCMP's website is https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/
For more tips and information on current scams, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
