An investigation is underway after a victim in the Ottawa Valley lost over $40,000 in an emergency/grandparent scam.
The Killaloe OPP says they responded to a fraud call on June 25th at a residence in the detachment area.
In this situation, police say the victim was told their grandson was in jail.
The OPP says in the typical emergency scam, the victim will receive a frantic phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or loved one or someone calling on their behalf. Police say the caller will explain that they are involved in some sort of mishap like a car accident, have been arrested or are having trouble returning from a foreign country and need money right away. The scammer will often insist that the victim does not tell anyone.
The Killaloe OPP says be careful what you post online because scammers can use details from social media platforms and dating sites to find real names, real interests, real phone numbers and when you are going to be home or away.
Some warning signs from the OPP include:
Urgency— The scammer always makes the request sound very urgent, which may cause the victim to not verify the story.
Fear— The scammer plays on the victim’s emotions by generating a sense of fear. For instance they may say, “I am scared and I need help from you.”
Secrecy— The scammer pleads with the victim not to tell anyone about the situation, such as, “Please don’t tell Dad, he would be so mad.”
Request for Money — Money can be requested by money transfer or in some cases the scammer sends someone to your home to pick up the payment.
If you or someone you know may have been the victim of an ’emergency’ scam, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You can also report the information to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)
