NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE
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The Waterloo Regional Police Service is issuing a warning to older adults in the community after receiving several reports of fraud targeting this population.
In the grandparent scam (also known as the emergency scam), the fraudster contacts the victim, claiming that a family member is in crisis and needs money. While the fraudster can claim to be any family member (e.g., aunt, uncle, child, spouse) or friend, grandparents may be particularly vulnerable.
Typically, a call is made from someone claiming to be the victim's grandchild. They will state they are in trouble, such as having been arrested or involved in a collision and need money. Usually, the victim is instructed to send money immediately. Sometimes a second call will be made from someone pretending to be a lawyer or police officer. The victims are often told they cannot talk about the investigation with anyone and advised that they will go to jail if they talk about it.
Between February and July 2022, over 30 of these incidents were reported in the region, with losses exceeding $185,000. The latest occurrences happened between June 24, 2022, and July 7, 2022.
In each of these four new incidents, victims were targeted, ranging in age from 50 to 87 years old. The suspects claimed to be RCMP officers on the phone and sent a delivery driver to collect the money. The delivery driver was described as a white or Asian female, approximately 5'1" tall, and was wearing a white T-shirt and dark shorts.
The investigations of these frauds are ongoing by the Waterloo Regional Police Service's Organized Financial Crime Team.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted here.
To protect yourself and others from this type of scam, consider the following:
- Take time to think. The fraudster will make it sound urgent to pressure you.
- Contact the family member in question. Emotions might be running high but take the time to check.
- Ask questions only family members would know.
- Call someone you trust or police for an opinion about the call (fraudsters will say they don't want anyone to know because they are embarrassed).
- Do not send any money.
If you believe you have been a victim of a similar scam, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or contact Waterloo Regional Police at 519-570-9777.
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