Battlefords RCMP are investigating what is known as a cellphone porting scam, a type of identity theft that is bilking residents and businesses in parts of Saskatchewan out of significant savings. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

RCMP Investigation

Battlefords RCMP investigating cellphone “porting” scam in local area

Jan 29, 2020 | 7:02 PM

Battlefords RCMP is investigating what is known as a cellphone “porting” scam after receiving a report from a local family impacted.

A number of residents and businesses in parts of Saskatchewan were reported to be victims of this type of scam, with most cases originating in southern Saskatchewan.

Sgt. Jason Teniuk said the investigation into the matter is complicated.

“Essentially the guy’s phone was accessed, and through the phone they were able to access his accounts,” he said of the local case, adding the victim ended up losing money in the incident.

“I would call it a substantial fraud attempt,” Teniuk said.

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The local detachment anticipates divisional investigation teams will be working on the cases since they cover a wide geographical area.

“It seems that every time we try and make sure people’s money and account information is secure, there are people out there that find another loophole or another way to get in and steal,” Teniuk said. “People should just be aware to keep their cellphone numbers to themselves, and make sure anyone they give it to they understand who is asking for it.”

SaskTel spokesperson Greg Jacobs said all wireless service providers across Canada have noticed an increase in porting fraud recently.

“We’re all working to try and curb it and prevent it from happening,” he said.

Jacobs describes porting fraud as a scheme where a criminals will steal someone’s phone number and use it to their advantage – whether it’s for a financial or personal motive.

He said the culprits first acquire key pieces of personal information about their target, then take it to a different service provider than the one the target uses. They then create a new account and request the phone number they stole from the target be transferred to the new service provider on their own phone so they have control over the target’s accounts.

“Once that is done all calls and text messages that normally go to the target, now go to that new account this criminal has set up,” Jacobs said.

He added the culprits can also download banking information and have access to information their target downloaded.

“Porting fraud only occurs on cellphones,” Jacobs added. “It’s not something we see on a desk phone or a land line.”

He said it is never a good idea to leave a cellphone open and unlocked if people have sensitive information on it as a general rule.

Jacobs also recommends people not post personal information on social media, such as their birthday date as an example. While that is just one piece of information, fraudsters can use that combined with other personal identification information they gather against the target to commit porting fraud.

“If you are the victim of identity theft you are potentially more likely to be the victim of porting fraud afterwards because through that they would have potentially acquired the key pieces of personal information they would need to accomplish porting fraud on you,” Jacobs said.

Andrew and Laurie Johnson of Johnson Livestock in the Peebles, Sask., area, near Regina, had their business impacted by the scam and had hundreds of thousands of dollars drained from their bank account.

Laurie Johnson said fortunately the bank advised them Wednesday afternoon they will be getting all the money back.

“It’s a huge relief,” she said.

The culprit ported out money from their business bank account after moving their cellphone number from their service carrier, SaskTel, to Telus, she later learned.

Johnson said she is aware SaskTel is investigating the matter.

Johnson said only a minimal amount of personal information is often needed in order for someone to transfer a target’s phone number to a different cell service carrier.

She recalled when the scam first happened about two weeks ago, a family member’s phone stopped working. When they contacted their service provider they learned the number was transferred to another provider, even though they did not initiate the request. They later discovered from their bank their account had been emptied.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow