Edmonton residents are facing a shocking wave of fraudulent activity as police warn of a sophisticated cell phone scam that has already defrauded victims of over $600,000. As of December 18, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) reported receiving 91 complaints related to this alarming scheme, which primarily targets unsuspecting individuals through enticing fake promotional offers.

The modus operandi of the scammers involves impersonating representatives from popular telecom companies, notably Telus, and luring victims into providing sensitive personal information. Victims receive calls from someone posing as a phone carrier agent, who entices them with low monthly rates on new devices. To finalize the supposedly great deal, they ask for critical details such as security codes and passwords.

Once the scammers have acquired this confidential information, they access the victims' accounts and order new phones to be delivered to the victims' homes. The victims are then instructed to call back upon the phone's arrival. However, when they do, the scammer concocts a story of an issue with the new phone, insisting that it must be returned to an address they provide. Many victims unwittingly send the device away, only to find themselves stuck with a hefty bill from their provider.

"This scam can be particularly insidious as it leverages trust within the victim's existing cell phone account to execute the theft," cautioned Detective Linda Herczeg from the EPS. She urged any victims of this scam to report their experiences to the police promptly.

To safeguard yourself against such scams, the EPS has provided some essential tips:

1. Never disclose your passwords or security codes