Fraudsters posing as high-ranking Calgary police officers convinced victims to hand over their bank cards in a scheme involving disguised phone numbers and couriers sent to their homes, according to a police report.
The detail was included in a report submitted to the Calgary Police Commission’s Wednesday meeting, the same day police announced charges against a Calgary man.
How the alleged scam worked
Police say scammers used caller ID spoofing technology to make calls appear to come from legitimate bank customer-service numbers.
Victims were told their accounts had been compromised and linked to criminal activity before being directed to individuals impersonating Calgary police officers.
They were then instructed to place their bank cards in envelopes for couriers to collect from their homes.
Police say the cards and associated banking information were used for unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases.
According to the Calgary Police Service (CPS), investigators received several reports of the scheme between June 7 and July 14, 2025.
Police used surveillance footage to identify a suspect allegedly purchasing and redeeming gift cards connected to the investigation.
Police say a 26-year-old man was arrested Oct. 14. He faces one count of fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and one count of laundering the proceeds of crime. The allegations have not been proved in court.
Police warn Calgarians not to trust caller ID
Police recorded 171 reports of police impersonation scams in 2025, compared with 27 so far in 2026, as of Oct. 24.
Reports specifically involving both bank and police impersonation totalled 24 in 2025 and seven so far this year.
Police are warning the public that caller ID information can be falsified, making fraudulent calls appear to come from trusted organizations.
CPS is advising residents to hang up and contact their bank or police directly using an independently verified phone number.
Police also stress that legitimate officers and financial institutions will not ask residents to surrender or mail bank cards, provide banking credentials or send money as part of an investigation.
