Chatham-Kent police bail residents to be wary of so-called grandparent scams after citizens reported calls claiming relatives are jailed and need money sent to get out.
Article content
This is a scam, because police will never ask for money to be sent, police say.
Article content
“A typical call consists of the fraudster posting as a distracted grandchild, a police officer or a lawyer,” police said.
“Generally, they present some legal issue and bail money is required to get them out of jail,” police said. “If money is not sent, then the situation will get worse in some way.”
Some scam stories include:
- a pregnant woman hit by a car
- drugs found in a car after a crash
- an impaired driving arrest
- a collision in which as grandchild was driving while on their cellphone
- a vehicle breakdown in another province
- jailing in another province.
Victims have been told the voice of a loved one doesn’t sound right because they have COVID, police note.
Article content
“In the case of the fraudster posing as a lawyer or officer, the grandchild cannot come to the phone for some reason,” police said.
Fraudsters often claim a “gag order” is in place, so victims can’t tell anyone, police added.
If the bank should query a large withdrawal, the fraudster supplies victims with excuses, such as paying for home renovations or buying a used car, police said.
“Fraudsters use words and terminology we’ve all heard on TV crime dramas or cop movies to sound legitimate,” such as “bailiff,” and “bail bondsmen,” not used in Canada’s justice system, police said.
Requiring bail money for release after arrest is also not common procedure in Canada, police added.
The fraudster will plan for someone to pick up the money, police said. “They make it sound legitimate by providing the victim with a password for the courier and incident numbers to write on the envelope with the money.”
Fraudsters are persuasive and successful when they keep the victim in a highly emotional state, police said.
Share this article in your social network