Hamilton police warn of fake officers using their real non-emergency number

What happened

According to CKTB News, Hamilton police have warned the public about a phone scam in which the callers pretended to be police officers. The suspects made the service's own non-emergency number appear on the intended victim's phone, which helped the call look genuine.

The callers introduced themselves as Hamilton Police officers. They then asked the person to bring cash to a Hamilton police station to deal with a fraud incident that, police say, did not exist.

The Hamilton Police Service is investigating. It reminds residents that its officers will not ask for cash in this way.

Warning signs

• A caller says they are from the police and mentions a fraud or other problem you were not expecting.
• You are asked to bring or hand over cash.
• The number on your screen looks official. Caller details can be faked, so a familiar number is not proof of who is calling.
• You feel pushed to act quickly or to keep the call to yourself.

What families can do

• Treat a number on the screen as a clue, not proof. Scammers can display a real number.
• Do not hand over money because of an unexpected phone call, however official it sounds.
• If you doubt a call claiming to be from Hamilton police, police encourage people to go to the front desk of any Hamilton police station and speak with a uniformed officer.
• Anyone with information about this incident or similar calls can contact the Hamilton Police Financial Crimes Unit, according to the report.
• Talk it over with someone you trust before acting, and tell older relatives that a genuine officer will not mind them checking first.
• If you have already paid or shared details, contact the police and your bank.

This kind of call works because it borrows a trusted identity. QuietGuard's call protection lets only the contacts you choose ring through, while other calls stay silent and are logged for you to review later, which gives you time to think before responding. It cannot confirm whether a caller is genuine, so checking with the police directly and speaking with family remain the best steps.