By Jill Smith

Overseas phone scams disguised as local SK numbers

Dec 23, 2013 | 1:22 PM

If you get a strange phone call from a 306 number, it might not actually be from this province. A spokesperson for SaskTel confirms that there is a rash of overseas calls being disguised as local numbers right now.

“It seems to surface from time to time and go in spurts,” said Michelle Englot, spokesperson. “It’s something that we have been seeing for years now.”

It’s called spoofing. And it’s easy enough to do. A quick Google search pops up dozens of free services for creating fake phone numbers.

“People tend to pick up a local call sooner than they would an overseas call,” said Englot.

Sometimes it’s scammers calling. At other times, it’s telemarketers. Regardless, Englot says that using local numbers is harmless, if a little pesky.

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You can report the calls, but Englot warns that it is very difficult to track the callers.

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