Langley RCMP is advising residents to be cautious after receiving reports of scammers spoofing the detachment's phone number and posing as police officers investigating identity theft.

Spoofing occurs when criminals falsify information, such as a phone number, to hide their true identities and present themselves as a legitimate organization in an attempt to gain trust.

The callers are requesting personal information while making it appear as though the call is coming from Langley RCMP.

 "Scammers can make it look like they are calling from a legitimate phone number, including a police detachment," said Corporal Mansoor Sahak with the Langley RCMP. "If you receive a call claiming to be from police and are unsure if it is legitimate, hang up and call the detachment directly using a publicly listed phone number to verify the call."

Residents are reminded not to provide personal, financial, or banking information over the phone unless they are certain they know who they are speaking with.

 Here are some tips to keep yourself safe:

• Always keep in mind that scammers can alter their number to show up differently on your call display.
• If you are not expecting a call or do not recognize the number, let the call go to voice mail first.
• If you receive a call from someone whose number appears to be with the Burnaby RCMP detachment, or identifying themselves as police, you can request their name and the associated file number and call the detachment to verify the information.
• Never give out personal information over the phone to someone you don’t know

If you are the victim of a fraud, contact the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200 to file a report. You may also be able to make a report online. You can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.