For immediate release
January 07, 2009
Media advisory
Statistics Canada warns of bogus callers

VANCOUVER:  Statistics Canada has issued a warning to the public about callers who claim to be an employee and who demand social insurance numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information.  While Statistics Canada has many ongoing surveys, it does not collect this kind of personal financial information.

These callers are in fact not Statistics Canada employees.  Their requests are not legitimate, and the public should not provide any information that they request.  In some cases, bogus callers simply reference a Statistics Canada survey while in others they refer to the Census of Canada.

Statistics Canada is asking anyone who receives such a call to contact them at 1-800-263-1136 (toll-free) or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Statistics Canada is also advising anyone who may already have provided their SIN, credit card number or bank account information under suspicious circumstances over the phone to contact their local police service.

For more information, contact Peter Liang, Communications Officer, Statistics Canada Western Region and Northern Territories at 604-666-7107.

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Peter Liang
Communications Officer/Agent des communications Statistics Canada Western Region & Northern Territories Statistique Canada - Région de l'Ouest et des territoires du Nord 600 - 300 West Georgia St./rue Georgia Ouest, bureau 600 Vancouver, B.C. (C.-B.) V6B 6C7
Tel/Bureau: 604-666-7107
Fax/Télécopieur: 604-666-6680
Email/Courriel: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

On Behalf of:

Kathryn Hennigar
Community Policing Coordinator
Sea to Sky Regional Police Services
Squamish CP Office
Office (604)892-9213