Police have recently received calls from West Grey residents whom have fallen victim to or have received fraudulent calls using both the Emergency and Grandparent scam as well as the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) scam. One of the scams that these fraudsters have been using in our region is a particularly malicious trick known as the “grandparent scam”. The scam has targeted seniors across Ontario and many have lost thousands of dollars.
Seniors across Ontario are being targeted and many have lost thousands of dollars, fearing their loved one is in danger or in trouble. In a typical Grandparent Scam, a con artist calls or emails the victim posing as a relative in distress or someone claiming to represent the relative (such as a lawyer or police officer). The “relative” of the grandparent explains that he or she is in trouble and that they need their grandparent to wire them funds that will be used for bail money, hospital bills, lawyer’s fees or another fictitious expense.
When it comes to fraud, criminals have set their sights on seniors with grandchildren. Emergency frauds usually target loving grandparents, taking advantage of their emotions to rob them of their money.
WGPS is asking that you take time to speak to your loved ones, especially those most vulnerable, to help educate them on these common scams. Education is the best way to prevent further victims of fraud.
If you receive a call like this, DO NOT wire the money or give the caller any further information. Hang up and call your grandchild, or another family member, to find out what’s really going on. If you are contacted and fall victim to a scam, don’t be embarrassed, you are not alone, call your local police service to report the incident as soon as possible. If you receive one of these calls and you are not a victim, we ask that you contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll-free at 1 888 495-8501 to report the attempted fraud. For more information on scams and how to protect yourselves from them, you can visit www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Media Inquiries:
Cst. Cory Trainor
Media Relations Officer
West Grey Police Service
519-369-3046
ctrainor@westgreyps.ca