NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
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The South Simcoe Police Service is warning residents that the grandparent scam is once again circulating in our communities.
On Friday, April 21, 2023, a citizen called police on behalf of an elderly relative in Bradford who was preparing to hand over cash to bail her grandchild out of jail. The scammers had called the woman, claiming to be from courts and saying a bondsman would come to her home to collect the money. Thankfully, due to the quick actions of the relative, police responded and the senior did not lose any money. The investigation is ongoing.
This is the third reported incident of the grandparent scam in our communities within a week.
In the grandparent or emergency scam, suspects contact victims by phone, claiming to be their grandchild, a lawyer, or a police officer, representing their grandchild. The scammers will then make the victim believe their grandchild has been arrested and needs help in the form of bail money; otherwise they will go directly to jail. Victims are instructed to go to their banking institution and withdraw cash to pay for their grandchild’s bail. Victims are often told there is a gag order and not to tell anyone what is going on or it could hurt the grandchild’s case.
The grandparent scam preys on the victim’s fear and concern for a loved one. We urge residents to discuss this scam with family members and share the following prevention tips from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
- 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. 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. 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.
Police are also reminding citizens to call police immediately if they see suspicious people, activity or vehicles in their area.
Always report fraud and fraud attempts to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm. Be aware that these types of scams can target anyone, not just seniors or grandparents.
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