Heavily armed police were sent to a Nova Scotia woman's home in a frightening act of retaliation after she refused to cooperate with a suspected phone scam.
Authorities received a false report of a hostage taking and shooting, and the caller told her to expect a "surprise" at her front door.
Here's what to know
Truro-area realtor Lynn Clark Colpitts was targeted by a caller posing as a CIBC fraud department employee, according to CBC News.
The caller presented the requested download, "CIBC Guard," as a way to block a credit card application the caller said had been submitted under Clark Colpitts' name.
Her workplace IT expert advised her to contact her bank branch before taking any action. Clark Colpitts had brought him onto the call because she was uncomfortable downloading the app or sharing information.
The caller had sworn at Clark Colpitts and hung up when she refused to cooperate.
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A directive to go to the front door came in a second call, about 20 minutes after the first ended. After opening the door, she saw heavily armed officers from Colchester District RCMP and Truro Police.
As Clark Colpitts tried to explain that there was no threat, several officers entered her home.
More background
During the check, Clark Colpitts held up her phone so officers could hear the threats from the woman who kept calling.
A co-worker also alerted Clark Colpitts that someone had hacked their real estate agency's website and replaced her photograph with something she described as a "deformed animal."
The calls did not end with the police check, as emails containing death threats also arrived.
David Shipley, CEO and co-founder of Fredericton-based Beauceron Security, identified the incident as a "swatting" attack — "swatting" as in "sending a SWAT team."
In these cases, someone reports a fictional emergency to dispatch police to another person's property. Shipley said it was the first phone scam he knew of that had escalated in this way.
Retaliation was the apparent motive, according to Staff Sgt. Marc Rose, commander of Colchester District RCMP.
"It appears to be a level of retribution by the fraudsters in this case," Rose told CBC News.
"[It appears] they did this to cause her harm and pain and distress by having the police respond to her residence all because she didn't follow the original instructions on the phone."
What's being done?
The RCMP offered Clark Colpitts victim support services. Rose acknowledged that investigators were working with law enforcement partners in Canada and other countries to identify those responsible and determine whether the incident was connected to other offenses.
CIBC told CBC News that "CIBC Guard" does not exist. The bank added that it would not ask customers for personal or financial details or instruct them to download an app.
The bank urged people to treat unsolicited calls, texts, and emails with caution and to not trust caller ID.
CIBC affirmed that it was educating clients about impersonation and other scams. It said anyone facing an urgent safety threat should contact 911.
For Clark Colpitts, the false emergency and continued threats left her frightened in her own home.
"There's so many things that could have gone badly wrong," she said.
Where can I learn more?
Scammers posing as bank employees or law enforcement officers have used intimidation to pressure other victims, too.
• A North Carolina woman lost $2,000 to scammers after a caller posed as a deputy.
• A Florida man received a fake warrant by email and nearly paid a sheriff impersonator.
• Massachusetts residents lost $24 million as scammers spoofed the FBI's number and pushed an app.
• In Canada, a TD Bank customer lost $9,800 to fraud and was denied reimbursement.
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