OPP warn fraudsters are targeting area grandparents

OPP News Release

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A Powassan Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer investigated a “Grandparent” scam incident involving a 91 year old woman on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.

On June 1, 2011, the elderly woman received a call from a male posing as her grandson. This male provided a story that he had been arrested from impaired driving in the Ottawa area and required money for his bail in the amount of $2,900. When she attended the financial institute to wire the money, the employee refused to complete the transfer and had her verify this information with her family members. Family advised that her grandson was at home and perfectly fine.

Even though the “Emergency or Grandparent Scam” is not new we are reminding everyone to be aware of this scam and to warn their relatives. Traditionally, fraudsters contact potential victims while posing as a family member or friend in urgent need of cash. Often the scenario involves an accident or arrest while traveling abroad, with a request that cash be sent through a money transfer company. In the typical scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from a con-artist pretending to be their grandchildren. The caller says that they are in trouble, usually a car accident, returning from a foreign country, or even in jail and need money immediately.

A typical call can go something like this:
Con-artist: Hi, Grandma/Grandpa
Victim: Hi.
Con-artist: Do you know who this is?
Victim: John?
Con-artist: Yeah

Victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent as the caller specifically asks “Can you please help me? I'm in jail (or in the hospital / or in some type of financial need). But don't tell Dad. He would kill me if he found out, please sent the money ASAP. I'm scared". Wanting to help their grandchild, the victim sends the money requested.

Variations on the scam are an old neighbor, a friend of the family etc. but predominantly the emergency scam is directed toward the Grandparents.

You are in charge, Take Control!

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it

To report a scam, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.

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