Got a text from RCMP about ‘missing’ a court date? Don’t click the link

Fraudsters are impersonating RCMP via text message, warn the police.

The scam, RCMP said Tuesday in a nationwide news release, is to send unsolicited “delivery notices.”

The notices inform recipients that RCMP were unable to deliver court documents and ask to reschedule delivery to avoid missing a court date. The messages contain a link to a fraudulent RCMP website to reschedule the delivery.

“This is a scam,” the release said. “The RCMP does not issue notices by text messages.”

RCMP warn anyone who receives a text like this to delete it immediately and don’t click the link.

Anybody who clicks through the link or provides personal details should contact their financial institution immediately. They can also report the text to RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The release outlines steps people can take to protect themselves from fraud:

• Don’t click on links or download attachments in unsolicited texts or emails;
• Never send personal, credit card, or banking information in response to unsolicited messages. Don’t enter this information to any website unless you are sure the site is genuine;
• Always take a moment to verify the source of text messages.

The RCMP will never ask for personal details via text message, including name, date of birth, phone number, email address, or banking details. The RCMP will also never ask to transfer money via text or ask to remotely gain access to a citizen’s personal computer.