Guelph senior loses $4K in grandparent scam
A Guelph senior is the latest victim of a grandparent scam.
The Guelph Police Service says a woman in her 70s received a phone call Wednesday from someone who she thought was her grandson.
The man claimed he had been in a collision and was facing criminal charges.
The woman received a second phone call, about 10 minutes later, from a man claiming to be lawyer. He told the woman he needed $9,000 in cash for her grandson’s bail.
Police say the woman went to her bank and withdrew $4,000 and later that day a man showed up at her south-end home to collect the money.
The woman later called police to report the theft.
The man is described as having an olive skin tone, black brush cut, and was wearing a dark spring jacket, dark shirt and jeans.
INCREASE IN GRANDPARENT SCAMS
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), grandparent emergency scams are becoming more common across the country and reported incidents have nearly doubled this year.
The CAFC says Canadians lost $2.4 million in 2021 to the grandparent and/or emergency scam, and for 2022, that has already reached $4.2 million.
There were 1,352 incidents reported between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, added the CAFC. However some victims never come forward to police.
“It’s not only financial consequences but also emotional consequences, where these victims usually are going to have a sense of fear, discouragement, shame that they have listened to the fraudsters,” Lt. Lynne Labelle of the Montreal police department explained on Nov. 30.
PREVENTION TIPS
So what can people do to protect themselves?
Guelph police shared these tips:
- Never send or give money to people you’re not sure you know
- Take the time to verify the story
- If the story involves a loved one, try to contact that person on your own or ask questions only they would be able to answer (such as the name of a family pet or a family memory)
- Never volunteer personal information to callers
The CAFC advises people to be suspicious of any caller who demands immediate action, especially financial, adding that police and other law enforcement officers will never seek immediate payment. They also say that if the situation doesn’t feel right don’t be afraid to say no.
“Be mindful or be careful of what you post online. Scammers can use details shared on social media platforms,” Jeff Horncastle of the CAFC previously told CTV News. “A lot of times if you list your family members, names of your family members, fraudsters unfortunately can gather this information and use it as an extra tool to try and scam you.”
If you do suspect a call is a scam, the RCMP says:
- Hang up and not provide any information to the caller
- Do not send money to the caller
- Call your family members right away, especially the family member in question
- Report the call to police
-- With reporting from CTV's Pat Foran and Vanessa Lee
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.