[Scoundreller]

Spoofing Caller-ID is easy. So they use familiar looking numbers to appear local to get you to answer.

They seemingly call numbers at random (at least, there's zero reason to call me in Chinese). The Chinese language scammers once hit my employer and made it hard to call them for a few hours because the scammers were dialing sequential numbers, and un-assigned numbers were sent to switchboard...

Though sometimes the calls seem to be targetted. Some immigrants have gotten calls from "Immigration Canada", while non-immigrants I've spoken to have not. So maybe there was a leak/theft that hasn't been detected.

[mullingitover]

The ease of spoofing caller ID will be the downfall of POTS. Imagine what the web would be like if it didn't have HTTPS, that's where we're at with the telephone system. It's not just broken, it's actively hazardous.

[throwaway2048]

Except its worse because random websites anywhere in the world can't connect to you claiming to be another site.

[craftyguy]

This happened to my work number the other day. I received hundreds of callbacks, and a full voicemail box, before I had my employee disconnect the number.

[lainga]

I (Vancouver-born) get the calls from Immigration Canada too - I only know this because I have to ask my Chinese coworkers what the recording on the other end of the line is saying. You'd think they'd at least throw in a little English or French to make it sound convincing...

[Scoundreller]

There’s an English language Immigration Department scam that seems to be targeted. The Chinese one is not targeted at all.

I find the CRA generic English names funny. Typical scammers go by “James Morrison” or “Derek Johnson”. The real feds have names more like Jean-François Pelletier.