SaskTel has been made aware of a recent increase in the number of scam calls originating from international locations and are actively working to block as many of these calls as possible. If you receive an unexpected call from another country, SaskTel advises you to ignore the call and do not call the number back. If you do answer the call, hang up immediately. If you call the international phone number, long-distance charges may apply.

These types of calls are truly a national issue, impacting people and communications providers all across the country. The majority of nuisance calls, including scams, are generated by computer dialers that enable spammers to dial many numbers at once. SaskTel is taking active steps to block these spam calls and will continue to monitor this situation. We also continue to work with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and others in our industry to implement solutions to combat this problem.

Scam calls like these can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) on their website or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Additionally, if you think you were the victim of a crime as a result of a scam call, you should contact the RCMP or your local police service.

Most cell phones have built-in features that can help to prevent some types of scam calls, or alternatively, there are applications that can be downloaded to help with this. To learn more about these features and other tips to help reduce the number of scam calls you receive click here.