Reminder: Be wary of fraudulent calls and emails claiming to originate from the RCMP or IRB

The University of Prince Edward Island reminds students and members of the UPEI community to be wary of calls or emails from persons demanding money and claiming to be representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

UPEI was made aware of a nationwide scam targeting newcomers after a UPEI student reached out to the UPEI Recruitment and Admissions office last week when he received a phone call from someone identifying himself as a member of the RCMP. The student was told that he was under investigation and owed money, and if he didn’t pay, would be deported.

It is important to note that the RCMP or IRB will never ask for money.

As reported by several media outlets in 2017, the IRB is working with law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators and bring an end to this scam. In the meantime, UPEI is warning members of the campus community to limit the impacts of this fraud.

If anyone receives a call or email of this nature, do not comply with any of the demands and instead contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises people that they have the right to check a caller or message sender by requesting written information, a call-back number, references, and time to think. It also warns people never to trust caller ID displays or provide confidential personal information, especially banking or credit card details, over the phone or by email.

If you believe that you have fallen victim to fraud, you can contact UPEI Security Services at (902) 566-0384 or your local police agency.  Students can also contact UPEI Student Affairs at studentserv@upei.ca or (902) 566-0488 for further support.