Asking a lot of questions helped a 73-year-old Innisfil woman foil an attempted grandparent scam, the South Simcoe Police Service says.
On Thursday, around 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. Police say she 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," officers stated in a release. "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."
South Simcoe police are sharing this incident as a reminder this type of scam is still circulating in the community.
"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
- 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
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.
Banner image - file photo - Barrie 360
