Middlesex OPP were called to a business in Ilderton on February 16th around 1:45pm for fraud.
A person came to the business to get additional funds after paying an unknown person $8400 as a result of the ‘Grandparents’ scam.
The victim got a phone call from the unknown person claiming to be a law firm out of London. The caller told the victim their grandson was in a collision and arrested and needed bail money. A person came to the victims house to collect the money.
The fraudster then told the victim an additional $11,000 was needed to grant bail.
· If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and also report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur.
· If you know a senior or have an elderly family member, please reach out to them and have a conversation on what to do if they get a phone call like this and consider coming up with a code word.
If you receive a suspicious phone call claiming to be from a family member involved in an emergency situation, hang up the phone and contact them directly to confirm.
Be suspicious of telephone calls that require you to act immediately.
Police will NEVER call requesting bail money for a family member in distress.
Fraud is a multi-billion dollar per year business and modern, tech savvy, fraudsters will do their best to create confusion and chaos during interactions, leading victims to react impulsively and hand over their money.
It is imperative to verify any unsolicited requests before you respond or provide personal information. If you feel pressured, hang up the phone or delete the sender’s profile.
The investigation is continuing.
For more information on fraud, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or http://www.antifraudcentre.ca
If you have been a victim of fraud, the OPP can be reached anytime, anywhere in the Province of Ontario at 1-888-310-1122.
If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.
Written By: K. Close
