ELORA – Police are once again reminding residents, notably seniors, how to avoid becoming victims of fraud after a local resident was bilked of $14,000 in a “grandparent scam.”
Wellington County OPP received a report of a possible scam on Feb. 8.
Police say the victim “received a phone call advising that their grandson was in jail and needed bail money.
“An unknown person attended the victim’s address on Keating Drive and collected approximately $14,000.”
The latest fraud comes just days after the OPP, RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre launched a campaign to raise awareness about the significant increase in emergency-grandparent scams targeting Canadian seniors.
Wellington County OPP officials are offering the following advice to avoid becoming a victim:
- 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 telling 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 and make it appear as a trusted phone number.
Police have also released a YouTube video explaining how the scam works and providing advice on how to avoid becoming a victim.
Anyone with information about the latest scam can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip at www.csgw.tips. Tip providers may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.
