Barrie Police have put the cuffs on a suspect in connection with the grandparent scam.
Police say between Monday, July 18 and Friday, July 22, it's believed up to $90,000 was lost through this scam. Investigators say the victim received a call from a person who claims to be a police officer or an employee with court services. The caller explains their grandchild is in trouble and has been arrested and requests a large cash payment to secure bail. The victim is given instructions on how to package the cash and is given a name of a "judge" or a name and badge number for an "investigating police officer" to write on the outside. After the money is picked up, the victim usually receives another call from the individual, claiming more cash is required.
On Friday, a 24-year-old Quebec man was arrested and charged in relation to a number of recent grandparent scam incidents that have been occurring in the Barrie area. Police say the suspect was nabbed as he attempted to collect money from another victim. The man is facing multiple fraud-related charges including fraud over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Police believe there may be additional victims of this fraud, and encourage anyone who may have received a similar call and lost money to contact Barrie Police at 705-725-7025 or online at https://www.barriepolice.ca/citizens-online-reporting/.
