A 73-year-old Innisfil woman who asked lots of questions managed to foil an attempted grandparent scam.
On Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 11:30 a.m., the woman was called by someone posing as her grandson, looking for bail money and saying his case was under a gag order.
The woman also received a call from someone posing as the fake grandson’s lawyer. The scammers bailed on their scheme and hung up when the skeptical senior challenged their story.
No money was exchanged and a quick call from grandma to grandson confirmed he was fine. The senior in this incident was aware of this type of fraud which helped prevent her from becoming a victim.
The South Simcoe Police Service is sharing this incident as a reminder this type of scam is still circulating in our communities. The grandparent scam typically involves the victim receiving an unsolicited phone call regarding a loved one in trouble. If you receive an urgent, unanticipated request for money, be extremely cautious and resist the pressure to comply immediately.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has the following tips on how to protect yourself:
• If you receive a phone call claiming to be from a family member in an emergency situation, hang up the phone and contact them directly using a phone number you already have – not one provided by the suspected fraudster
• If the caller claims to be a law enforcement official, hang up and call your local police directly, using a phone number from a reputable source – not one provided by the suspected fraudster
• Be suspicious of telephone calls that require you to immediately act and request money for a family member in distress
• Listen to that inner voice that is screaming at you “This doesn’t sound right”
• It is important to know the Canadian Criminal Justice System does not allow for someone to be bailed out of jail with cash or cryptocurrency
• Be careful what you post online
o Scammers can get details that you shared on social media platforms and dating sites to target you or get names and details about your loved ones
• Don’t trust caller ID names and numbers.
o Scammers use technology to disguise the actual number they are calling from and can make it appear as a trusted phone number, also known as spoofing
Always report fraud and fraud attempts to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm. Be aware that these types of scams can target anyone, not just seniors or grandparents.
The South Simcoe Police Service encourages residents to speak with family members about fraud prevention.