NWT has issued a warning after they say fraudsters posed as police and federal officials in an effort to scam a resident out of money.

A complaint was filed with NWT after the victim -- itSA国际影视传媒檚 not specified whether the scammers actually made off with money from their target -- received a call from a phony Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employee, stated a police news release.

The resident was told they owed money to the CRA.

The fraudster said the victim would be arrested if they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 pay up immediately, claiming a warrant had already been issued for their arrest, say .

The victim then received a call from a SA国际影视传媒�(1111)SA国际影视传媒� number--- a recognizable NWT number.

SA国际影视传媒淎fter verification, the phone call did not originate from an detachment,SA国际影视传媒� stated the news release.

This type of trickery isnSA国际影视传媒檛 new.

Similar scams, where recognizable government agency numbers are used, have been reported across the country. Sometimes, say , victims are the names and badge numbers of fake police officers.

The police do not collect money for the CRA.

The reported phone scam, which comes on the heels of a sophisticated email scheme in Yellowknife, has prompted NWT to remind residents of some helpful tips to avoid being victimized by fraud:

• If you are unsure if the caller is a legitimate government agency, hang-up. Do not provide personal information, including social insurance numbers, identification numbers, passwords, or financial information over the phone.
• If you are not sure if a message is from the CRA, confirm your tax status with the CRA online through a CRA secure portals such as My Account or by calling 1-800-959-8281.
• Whether you paid the scammer or not, file a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501, or via the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 website: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
• Report the scam to your local police if you paid money, including purchasing pre-paid credit cards, gift cards or online currency such as Bitcoin.
• If youSA国际影视传媒檝e sent money or shared financial information with a fraudster, report it to your bank.

For more tips on how to protect yourself against fraud, visit the Anti-Fraud Centre at: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.