News release
West Kelowna RCMP warns public about elaborate police impersonation scam
February 26, 2026
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West Kelowna, British Columbia
From: West Kelowna RCMP
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File # 2026-11547
The West Kelowna RCMP is issuing a warning to the public after receiving two reports overnight of a sophisticated scam involving suspects impersonating RCMP officers and spoofing the official West Kelowna RCMP Detachment phone number.
Both callers, one in British Columbia, and the other in Ontario, contacted the West Kelowna detachment to report that they had been targeted by fraudsters claiming to be RCMP officers.
In both incidents, scammers used caller ID spoofing to make it appear as though the call was coming directly from the West Kelowna RCMP. Victims were then directed to join a video call, during which the suspects appeared wearing police‑style uniforms in an attempt to make the interaction look legitimate.
During the interactions, the scammers tried to gather personal and financial information that could later be used to extort victims for large amounts of money.
“This scam is very elaborate and convincing,” said Constable Ash Puri of the West Kelowna RCMP. “We want to stress that the RCMP will never ask for money, personal banking information, or private identification details over the phone or through video chat.”
Both individuals who reported the scam were advised to contact their local police agencies in their respective jurisdictions. The West Kelowna RCMP has now opened a centralized file to capture information related to this fraud pattern.
Public Safety Reminder
The RCMP will never:
- Ask for payment of any kind over the phone
- Request banking information, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money transfers
- Conduct official business through Zoom, FaceTime, or other video‑chat platforms
- Demand money to avoid arrest or legal consequences
If You Receive a Suspicious Call
- Hang up immediately
- Do not provide personal or financial information
- Look up your local detachment’s number independently
- Contact your local police
You can find more fraud and preventions tips on our BC RCMP website: Frauds and scams | Royal Canadian Mounted Police