Members of the Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a reported fraud in the Town of Huntsville.
On May 4th 2023, a 67-year-old female called police to report on May 2nd, 2023 she was contacted by someone she believed was her grandson and that he required “bond money”. The victim was directed to withdraw $7,450 from her bank and the suspect arranged for the money to be picked up by a third party. A local business was hired to pick up the money and deliver it to an address out of the province. This business was unaware of the fraud and is cooperating with the police in this investigation.
The victim followed the instructions and realized it was a fraud a couple of days later and reported it to police.
Police are investigating this incident and are warning the public about these scams.
In a typical emergency/grandparent scam, the victim will receive a frantic phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or loved one. The caller will explain that they are involved in some sort of mishap like a car accident, in police custody, or are having trouble returning from a foreign country and need money right away. The scammer will often insist that the victim does not tell anyone. The call could also involve someone claiming to be a law enforcement official, lawyer, or bailiff.
Be aware of some warning signs:
· Urgency: The scammer always makes the request sound very urgent, which may cause the victim to not verify the story.
· Fear: The scammer plays on the victim’s emotions by generating a sense of fear. For instance, they may say, “I am scared, and I need help from you.”
· Secrecy: The scammer pleads with the victim not to tell anyone about the situation, such as “Please don’t tell Dad, he would be so mad.”
· Request for Money: Money can be requested by money transfer or in some cases the scammer sends someone to your home to pick up the payment.
To avoid becoming a victim, check with another family member or trusted friend to verify the information before sending money or providing credit card information by phone or email.
Police are asking the public to talk to their parents, grandparents and neighbours about this scam and what to do if their called. Police are suggesting if you receive a call like this to hang up the phone and contact family members.
If you or someone you know may have been the victim of an emergency or grandparent scam, or any other scam report it to the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
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