Quebec man charged with fraud in local ‘grandparent scam’

Winnipeg police have arrested a 24-year-old Quebec man in a so-called grandparent scam carried out last month.

Police said Friday that a person in their 80s was contacted by someone posing as a justice official. The caller claimed a relative had been arrested and that money was needed to keep them out of jail.

After the victim agreed to pay the amount, an unknown man arrived at their home to collect the money.

The victim later learned from family members that the story was false, and reported the incident to police.

The Winnipeg Police Service financial crimes unit took over the investigation.

On March 17, officers arrested a suspect at a home in the 300 block of Tyson Trail in the city’s Peguis neighbourhood.

A woman present at the time was not charged.

The man has been charged with fraud under $5,000 and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

“I will tell you that information reported in this circumstance, in this case, led directly to the arrest,” said Sgt. Trevor Thompson of the financial crime unit, adding police saw the scams resurface over the last two months after a spike in reports in 2024.

He added investigators look for locations, patterns and commonalities when probing scams, noting that more reports help police identify connections.

Police did not disclose how much money was taken or provide details about the suspect’s probation. They also declined to release his name due to the ongoing investigation.

“There’s an investigative necessity where we would withhold a name,” Thompson said.

Meanwhile, the first few weeks of a fraud-awareness partnership between the WPS and A&O: Support Services for Older Adults have reached more than 300 people through presentations at seniors residences, church groups and a fitness facility.

Survey data collected after the sessions showed 89.8 per cent of respondents believed they could recognize a scam attempt, while 84.7 per cent said they would know how to report it and feel confident doing so.

Police spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said only about five to 10 per cent of scam victims report incidents to police.

She said many feel embarrassed.

“You’re not a sucker. They didn’t just get you,” McKinnon said. “These fraudsters are so skilled. They’re using AI. They’re doing their homework. They’re accessing things like obituaries to understand who their victim is.”

Thompson said victims have information that is vital for police to crack down on these scams.

“(It’s) the key that unlocks the door for us to further investigation,” he said. “So when we don’t have the reports and we don’t have that information, we can’t speak to those people, then that makes it exponentially more difficult.”

He added that even if someone does not lose money in a scam, reporting the incident can help with other investigations.

“It could link up to other things and show a pattern, even if (you) haven’t been victimized,” he said.

Police said scammers can find information on a potential victim easily by combing through social media and obituaries.

“We give away so readily now our personal information, to social media platforms, to retailers, to vendors,” he said. “Once you’ve given up that information, you’re no longer in control of it… people put their whole lives online now. The key is to realize that information is out there and take steps to protect yourself accordingly.”

Of the more than 300 people who attended the presentations, six have since reported being victims who gave money to scammers.

“The key message: if you’ve lost money in a scam, report to police online,” McKinnon said. “The simple steps of just hanging up, verifying and reporting can help detect and stop scams in their tracks.”

Police ask people who think they’ve been a victim of a grandparent/emergency scam to contact the financial crime unit at 204-986-6231.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca