Barrhead RCMP warn residents about artificial intelligence scam

BARRHEAD - On Feb. 3, the Barrhead RCMP issued an alert about an artificial intelligence (AI) telephone scam making the rounds in the area for the second time in less than a week.

The first alert, issued through the Barrhead and Area Regional Crime Coalition (BARCC) alert messaging system was on Thursday, Jan. 31.

Barrhead RCMP Detachment commander Sgt. Colin Hack said police have received multiple complaints from area residents about a telephone scam where the person on the other end of the line, generated by artificial intelligence, sounds like a family member, says that they've been in a motor vehicle accident, often a rear-end collision and that there have been injuries.

He added the call then is transferred to a "lawyer" who said if they paid for the damages for the other vehicle, their family member would not be charged with a criminal offence.

"It is a bit of a variation of a theme where the scammers claim that your social security number has been used for illegal activity, and if you send them money, they will fight it in court," Hack said.

Hack said while the computer-generated voice is very realistic to the point where it mimics someone they know, it isn't necessarily sophisticated.

For instance, he said, in this particular scam, the criminals don't seem to have information regarding their target's personal life, such as the actual name of their family member.

However, at the Jan. 28 RCMP town hall, Hack and Cpl. Filipe Vicente said scammers are taking advantage of technology and can have pieces of personal information, making a telephone call or e-mail seem to be legitimate and making it harder for people to recognize that it is a scam.

Hack said the area codes for the latest motor vehicle scam are all over the map, adding that the scammers have the technology to "spoofing technology" to have call displays show fake telephone numbers.

In one recent, scam attempt, he said, the scammers managed to spoof the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre's number.

"You have to be diligent, that's for sure. Be on your toes, ask questions," Hack said.

But in the case of the latest scam, like any other, the best defence is to hang up the phone and then block the number.

"Do not send money," the BARCC release stated. "If you still feel uncertain, contact your family member to verify their safety."

The Barrhead RCMP also asked if anyone has fallen victim to this or other types of scams to contact them.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com