The Province of Manitoba took the step on Thursday of alerting the public to the possibility for the latest variation in phone scam that may now be taking place in the province.
According to a media bulletin issued, a resident received an automated phone call falsely advising them of a problem with their health card and requesting personal information.
In the Thursday Provincial media bulletin it is made clear that Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living does not use automated services to contact the public regarding their Manitoba Health Card. If receiving the call, one is advised to hang up and report to local law enforcement.
The description of the call resembles that of another scam known to be particularly active locally in recently weeks in which an automated service calling local numbers purports to be representing Canada Revenue Service and claims there to be a problem with oneâs Social Insurance card.
Brandon Police Service also recently reported of a new variation of the scam in which the caller pretends to be members of Brandon Police, threatening with arrest warrants should the target victim not meet financial demands. When becoming aware of the calls last month Police made clear that they do not collect money for taxes, court fees or fines and advised to not give out personal information such as Social Insurance Number or financial information over the phone. Police have said that there is no need to report being in receipt of the latter two variations of calls unless one has fallen victim to the fraud.
Calls in the latter two cases are known to falsely display the phone number on oneâs phone of the agency being impersonated. Though it has not been said that there is a connection to the Manitoba Health Card scam nor shared what phone number was shown in the reported call, one could reasonably assume the possibility that such a scam may impersonate the relevant phone number of a Provincial department, Health Authority or Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living so as to appear more authentic.
Resources on how to respond to a fraudulent phone call can be reviewed at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm