West Shore RCMP is warning residents in View Royal and surrounding communities about phone scammers who pretend to be from banks, government agencies, and other trusted organizations to steal personal information.
On August 8, 2026, the detachment posted a public warning on its official X account advising people to be cautious about unsolicited phone calls. The post said: “Pause before you share. Scammers often pose as trusted organizations and use unsolicited phone calls to try to obtain your personal information. When in doubt, hang up and contact the organization directly using a phone number you know is legitimate.”
The warning comes as fraud losses across Canada hit a record high. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians lost more than $704 million to fraud in 2025, and reported losses since 2022 have surpassed $2.4 billion. Only an estimated 5 to 10 percent of fraud incidents are reported, meaning actual annual losses could be between $3.5 billion and $7 billion.
Phone fraud is a significant part of that problem. Bank-investigator scams alone resulted in $28.6 million in losses in the first six months of 2026, already surpassing the $28.3 million reported for all of 2025. In these scams, fraudsters often spoof caller ID to make it look like they are calling from a police detachment or financial institution.
West Shore RCMP has issued several fraud warnings this year. In July 2026, the detachment warned about fraudulent letters impersonating police. Cpl. Nancy Saggar, Media Relations Officer for West Shore RCMP, said at the time that fraudsters rely on fear and urgency to manipulate victims.
Residents in View Royal and other West Shore communities are advised to never give out personal information over the phone unless they initiated the call to a verified number. The RCMP recommends hanging up and calling the organization back using a number found on an official website or statement.
More information on fraud prevention is available on the RCMP website.
