Ottawa 'grandparent' scam victims defrauded out of $10,000 to $30,000 over the past week, police say
Ottawa police are warning the public that so-called "grandparent" scam fraudsters are active this summer, after receiving reports of people being defrauded out of $10,000 to $30,000 over the past seven days.
Police have received 20 reports of people being targeted by fraudsters over the past week.
In the "grandparent" scam, an elderly person receives a phone call from someone claiming to be his or her grandchild, police said.
"The caller says that they have been arrested and they urgently need you to send money or gift cards for their bail," police said in a media release on Friday.
"The fraudster will make it difficult to understand what they are saying or to recognize the voice in an attempt for victims to fill in the blanks as to who they are. They are incredibly convincing and count on the emotional factor."
Police say the victims have told investigators they were made to believe by the fraudster that a "Gag Order" was put in place to protect the identity of the police officer who is going to be collecting the money.
"This fake secrecy demand puts victims in an awkward position; they will then shy away from telling any other persons about the demand for money from a family member," police said.
Police say officers will never ask for money for bail from family members, nor will they issue "Gag Orders" on the identity of the officer.
If you do receive a suspicious call, police recommend doing the following:
- Never confirm any personal information over the phone.
- Always verify who is calling. If it is a family member as they claim, tell them you will call them back and use the number you have for this person.
- Don’t be pressured. Take some time to process what you have been told, to see if it makes sense. Ask a trusted friend or family member for their opinion, or if in doubt, call your local police service.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.