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RCMP said it received multiple reports of “emergency” or “grandparent scams” in the Battlefords area on Jan. 9.
In a statement issued Jan. 16, the police said its investigation determined the fraudulent caller is primarily targeting elderly people.
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“In some reports, the fraudulent caller also knows the real name of victim’s loved one, making the scam more believable,” the Mounties said.
Officers advise members of the public that if they receive a similar phone call, hang up immediately.
“Do not provide any information to the caller or follow through with their request,” said the police.
Moose Jaw residents should be ‘vigilant’ of scams
The Moose Jaw Police Service warned the public to be “vigilant” following several reports of “grandparent scams” in a statement issued Thursday.
In this case, the police force said the caller “immediately indicates they need money and states that a lawyer, police officer of judge will contact them.”
After the first call, a person impersonating a lawyer, police officer or judge called the victim.
“The ‘victim’ is instructed to withdraw a large amount of money and await further directions,” said the police in a statement.
Moose Jaw Police Service, lawyers, judges or jails “do not call people personally to request money. Also, if the caller is requesting payment via gift cards or Bitcoin, it’s a scam,” police said.
Police noted in a recent incident that the scammer visited the victim’s house to collect the payment in person.
“If someone asks to come to your home ot pick up payment, it’s a scam.”
What is a ‘grandparent’ or ‘family scam’?
The scheme, also known as the “family scam,” involves a call to a usually elderly victim.
The scammer will pretend to be a relative who is in trouble and in urgent need of financial help. The scammers will occasionally imitate a police officer, doctor or lawyer to help drive home a false sense of urgency before asking for payment, often in the form of untraceable cryptocurrency or gift cards.
SPS said in a news release on Monday that they had received reports of fraudsters attempting to target victims in the city recently, and while there have not yet been reports of the recent scam being successful, it has been in the past.
Police said that although fraudsters had gone to the homes of victims in the past, recently potential victims had been contacted by phone by someone claiming to be a grandchild in an emergency, as a result of a traffic collision or drug possession. Payment is then demanded in cash or cryptocurrency for bail and legal fees.
Police said the fraudsters are also telling the potential victims to lie to their financial institution to withdraw the funds they are demanding, and in some cases falsely saying that a gag order is in place preventing them from discussing the matter with anyone.
If people receive a suspicious phone call, ask important questions to verify the caller’s identity, but don’t offer additional details.
People can also hang up and call the family member directly to verify their location and well-being and talk to other relatives.
If the caller is claiming to be law enforcement or a representative of another profession, hang up and call that authority directly to verify the information.
SPS said fraudsters leverage urgency and panic to coerce the victim into complying with their requests and demands.
Police are also encouraging everyone to openly discuss the scam to prevent more victims.
Anyone who’s been a victim of a scam should report it to police. Any suspected scams can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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