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
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.