A phone scam run partly from call centres in Lahore, Pakistan, is believed to be behind more than $20 million in losses in Edmonton alone, the Edmonton Police Service said this week. Police say the scheme has been running since at least October 2024, and they’ve had about 100 reports in Edmonton this year.

Thunder Bay Police warned about the same trick last week, so it isn’t just an Edmonton problem.

How the scam works

  1. The call. Someone says they’re from your carrier, such as Rogers, Telus or Virgin Mobile, and offers a free or heavily discounted phone or plan.
  2. The real order. They talk you into giving personal details and ordering a new device through your actual provider. Because the order is real, everything looks legitimate.
  3. The “mistake.” When the phone arrives, you get a follow-up call saying the wrong device was shipped. Sometimes the scammers wait for you to call about a package you didn’t expect.
  4. The return. You’re given a different address or a prepaid “return” label. The phone goes to the scammers, who resell it.

Edmonton police arrested a 31-year-old man in October, charged him with fraud over $5,000 and other offences, and say their work helped authorities disrupt several call centres in Pakistan. They worked with phone companies, shipping firms, the RCMP, the OPP and Peel police.

How to protect yourself

  • Don’t act on unsolicited deals. “If you receive an unsolicited offer for a free or heavily discounted cellphone that might seem too good to be true, contact your service provider directly using trusted contact information,” said Cst. Brian Mason of the Edmonton police’s virtual investigations section.
  • Check your account yourself. Log in through your carrier’s official app or website and look for orders or changes you didn’t make, Thunder Bay police advise.
  • Never use a return label you didn’t ask for until you’ve confirmed it with your provider at the number on its website.
  • Report it. In Edmonton, call 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Elsewhere, contact local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Why it matters: This scam works because the phone order is real, so it gets past the usual warning signs. If a device shows up that you didn’t expect, call your carrier yourself before you send anything anywhere.