The popular Grandparent or Emergency scam has resurfaced.
Provincial Police says seniors or family members will be contacted claiming that their grandchild or family member has been charged and is in legal trouble or is injured or ill.
Suspects will claim that they are law enforcement officials, lawyers and even impersonate the grandchild/family member.
They will advise the victim that a payment for supposed bail, legal fees or fine is required immediately in order for the family member to avoid going to child.
If the victim agrees to pay they requested amount, suspects will ask them to send cash in the mail or through courier services.
OPP say the deeply concerning new trend has suspects obtaining the victim’s address, and physically attending the residence to collect the funds, posing as a courier or representative of the court.
Between January 1 and August 31, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 13,293 such reports from Ontario residents.
Police say 7,322 of these reports were classified as victims with total reported losses in excess of $118 million.
Warning Signs – How to protect yourself
- If you receive a suspicious phone call claiming to be from a family member in an emergency situation, hang up the phone and contact them directly.
- If the caller claims to be a law enforcement official, hang up and call your police directly.
- Listen to that inner voice that is screaming at you: “This doesn’t sound right”.
- Be careful what you post online. Scammers can use details shared on social media platforms and dating sites for targeting purposes. Suspects can easily gather names and details about your loved ones.
- Be suspicious of telephone calls that require you to immediately take action and request bail money for a family member in distress.
- Be careful with caller ID numbers that look familiar. Scammers use technology to disguise the actual number they are calling from (spoof) and make it appear as a trusted phone number.
