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say in recent occurrences, the ‘lawyer’ claims that they will send a ‘bailiff’ to pick up the money once the victim has withdrawn the cash from the bank.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
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.