Mark Smith

URGENT WARNING: PHONE SCAM, THREATS, AND SWATTING I want to share what happened to me this morning because I never want anyone else to experience something like this. I received a phone call this morning from a woman claiming to represent the CIBC Fraud Department. She told me someone had applied for a credit card in my name at 2:00 a.m. and that the card was already on its way to whoever had applied for it. She asked me to verify whether I had made the application. I immediately told her it was not me and asked her to cancel the card. Apparently, this person had some of my personal information. She then instructed me to go to the App Store and download an app called CIBC Guard. I wasn't comfortable doing that, so I told her I would only consider it if my IT support person could join a three-way call and confirm that it was safe. She was fine with the three-way call. My IT support person advised me to contact my local bank branch in Truro before downloading anything. I followed that advice and politely explained to the woman that I would be contacting my bank first. My IT support person then disconnected from the call, leaving the woman and me on the line. She suddenly started yelling at me, calling me a “fucking bitch,” and hung up. At that point, I knew something was seriously wrong. What happened next was absolutely horrifying. Approximately 20 minutes later, the same woman called me back and told me she had a surprise waiting for me in my front yard and that I should go to my front door. When I looked outside, I was shocked to see RCMP officers, including heavily armed officers, covering my yard and the street. The RCMP asked me to step off my porch and walk to the bottom of my driveway. I was told that someone had called them claiming there were people inside my home, that I was being held hostage and hiding in my bathroom, and that two people had already been shot. NONE OF THIS WAS TRUE. I stood there in complete disbelief as armed Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia officers entered my home to investigate the report and determine what was happening. Meanwhile, this woman continued relentlessly calling my phone and sending emails threatening to destroy me and my family. The RCMP were present and could hear her continuing to make threats. One of the emails even claimed there were seven bombs in my house that would go off in 20 minutes. The email came from an address displaying the name **[email protected]**. This experience has left me deeply shaken. What started as a suspicious phone call turned into a situation that put me, my family, the responding officers, and potentially others at serious risk. Was I being punished for not downloading the app? I am baffled by this whole thing. I don't know what these people are capable of or what they might try next, and that is a frightening thought. This is a warning to everyone: If someone calls claiming to be from your bank's fraud department or any other institution, do not blindly trust them. Never download an app, click a link, share personal information, or follow instructions simply because someone on the phone tells you to. Hang up and independently contact your bank using the official number on your bank card or its official website. Do not use a number or link supplied by the caller. If you receive threats, suspicious emails, or anything suggesting an immediate danger, preserve the evidence and contact the police. If you believe there is an immediate threat, call 911. Please be aware that scammers can go far beyond trying to steal your money or personal information. A false emergency report intended to bring an armed police response to someone's home is commonly known as swatting. Going forward, I will be extremely cautious with unsolicited calls. I will end suspicious conversations and verify everything independently before taking any action. I also found the same information Code One Colchester Page who verified this incident directly with the RCMP. Credit: Kimberly Brown