Toronto resident charged in telephone ‘grandparent’ scam in Kingston, Ont., police say
Police in Kingston, Ont. are issuing a warning about an on-going telephone scam known as the ‘grandparent’ scam, following the arrest of a 27-year-old Toronto resident.
The individual is charged with one count of attempted fraud over $5,000 in connection to an investigation into a telephone scam, according to Kingston police.
No other information about the investigation was released.
“Police have received an increase in reports regarding this scam,” police said in a media release Saturday afternoon. “This type of scam generally targets senior citizens by contacting them via telephone and informing them a member of their family, often a child or grandchild, has been arrested, often following a supposed car accident.”
Police say the scam will see the initial caller pretending to be a grandchild, and claim they have a cold or COVID as a way to explain the change in the sound of their voice. At some point, the victim will be passed on to another person purporting to be the grandchild’s lawyer, and that person will say they need cash to be sent to get the grandchild released on bail.
Kingston police say in recent occurrences, the ‘lawyer’ claims that they will send a ‘bailiff’ to pick up the money once the victim has withdrawn the cash from the bank.
“A legitimate courier company is then contacted by the suspect and hired to pick up a parcel from the victim, who has been instructed to place the cash in a shoe box,” police said.
“The courier then unknowingly facilitates the scam by transporting the money to a different location, where it is retrieved by someone involved in the scam.”
Police say cash is never requested for bail, and you should never send money by courier.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.