Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Grandparent scam becoming more common in city
Beware, grandma and grandpa.
City police are warning the public the scam designed to fleece the elderly -- with one recent case involving $6,000 -- has been reported with increasing frequency.
The schemes have been dubbed "Emergency or Grandparent Scams", where a suspect calls claiming to be the victim's grandchildren. They pretend to be in jail or caught up in some critical emergency and they need money wired to them immediately at their location.
Feigning embarrassment, the "suspect- grandchild" further encourages the grandparent not to say anything. In some instances, another person pretending to be a lawyer talks to the victim and provides them with direction on where and to whom to send the money.
In a recent case, a grandparent used a money transfer service to send approximately $6000 to help their grandchild, who was later found to be fine.
Police are encouraging all care providers and children or grandchildren to discuss this scam with older adults who may be in care facilities or who they feel may be vulnerable to these pressure tactics.
Some seniors who have received such calls have avoided being scammed by simply asking the caller "what is your full name", which caused the caller to hang up immediately.
For further information on this scam please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
at: http://www.phonebusters.com/english/recognizeit_emergency.html
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