HUNTSVILLE GRANDMOTHER TURNS OVER $7,450 CASH IN ‘GRANDPARENT’ SCAM
HUNTSVILLE — A 67-year-old grandmother was scammed out of $7,450 last week, the same day a Gravenhurst grandfather avoided the same fate when police caught the go-between approaching his home in yet another “grandparent scam.”
Police said yesterday they are investigating this second reported fraud, this one in Huntsville.
A grandmother called the OPP on May 4 to say that last Tuesday May 2 she was contacted by someone she believed was her “grandson” and that he required “bond money.”
The woman was told 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 province. Police say the business was unaware of the fraud and is cooperating with the police for this investigation.
The victim followed the instructions and realized it was a fraud a couple days later and reported it to police.
The fraud took place the same day police in Gravenhurst arrested a 19-year-old Montreal teen who tried to pick up $7,125 from a grandfather in the same type of scam. He was arrested as he approached the home on Muskoka Road north.
See that story here: BAIL FOR TEEN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO DEFRAUD GRAVENHURST GRANDPA OF $7,125 IN ‘GRANDPARENT SCAM’ https://muskokatoday.com/2023/05/bail-for-teen-accused-of-trying-to-defraud-gravenhurst-grandpa-of-7125-in-grandparent-scam/
Police say that 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.
The say be aware of these 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.
The OPP 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.
