SASKATOON – Police in Saskatchewan have issued a warning that grandparents are being targeted by scammers posing as family members in crisis.
At least four reports have been made to Saskatoon and Regina police in the past week by people who have experienced the “grandparent scam.”
This scam typically involves a fraudulent phone call to a person where the caller claims to be a grandchild of the victim.
Victim will unwittingly give the suspect information by addressing the caller by a grandchild’s name.
Scammers tell the victim a story of some sort of crisis requiring immediate funds.
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Recently, the storyline has been that the grandchild has been involved in an accident or some kind of legal trouble.
They will insist that the victim act immediately and failure to do so will have catastrophic consequences.
Callers may also specifically ask for discretion so other relatives don’t find out about the ‘emergency.’
Wanting to help their grandchild, concerned victims gets caught up in the urgency and sends funds by wire transfer or courier.
In both cases reported to Saskatoon police in recent days, funds were received in Quebec.
It is only after the money was sent that the victim realized there was no crisis.
Those who feel a fraudulent transaction has occurred via wire service should contact the company so police know where funds ended up.
Police are advising people to ask questions of a suspicious caller to try to verify their identity.
Ask for a phone number to call the “grandchild” back once other relatives have been consulted. If a true crisis exists, more people will be informed to get that family member the help they need.
Anyone who has been a victim or suspects fraud should report it to police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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