Someone posing as a police officer is preying on the emotions of Nova Scotians and hijacking their phones for free long distance calls.

The RCMP in the Annapolis Valley say at least 10 people in the region have received the fake calls since Monday, and the reports keep coming in.

"Someone's pulling on our emotional heartstrings to get the use of our phone, but then the caller is defrauding the person and using the phone for their own personal use," Sgt. Mike Holland said Wednesday.

In each case, the caller is identified as a police officer informing the person about a relative in a car accident. The recipient is then told to hit *72 to get more information.

By doing so, Holland said, the call is forwarded, allowing the scam artist to make a call anywhere in the world at the recipient's expense.

Holland understands why anyone receiving such shocking news would comply.

"It's gonna be almost a reflex to do so," he said.

Call back for confirmation

Holland said in almost every case of a car accident in the region, officers go to people's homes to deliver the news.

He advises anyone who receives such a call to write down the officer's name and detachment, then call back to confirm the information.

"I know that's a lot to ask when all of a sudden you've heard some very traumatic and stressful news, but it may save them a large phone bill," Holland said.

Holland isn't sure how much money the scammers have made off with in terms of long-distance costs.

He said PhoneBusters, the Canadian anti-fraud centre, is looking into it the scam, which appears to be coming out of the U.S.

Some recipients complain about the phone being locked, he said, but they can regain control by hitting *73.