Police in Sask. warn against ‘grandparent scam’ going into holidays
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Moose Jaw police are urging the public to remain vigilant going into the holidays and guard against scam calls targeting grandparents and parents with fake emergencies.
Be wary of calls asking to withdraw money or provide gift cards or bitcoin currency for any reason, as it may be a scam, police noted.
The “emergency scam” or “grandparent scam” involves a caller pretending to be a grandchild or family member who has been arrested or is in danger and in need of money to resolve the emergency.
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In a recent news release, the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) said that in the most recent iteration of the scam, the false caller asks for money and then says a lawyer, police officer or judge will be in contact.
The scammer then calls back pretending to be one of those three individuals, instructing the victim to withdraw money and either deposit it into a bitcoin ATM or to arrange a pickup by the scammer.
“The MJPS, lawyers, judges, or jails do not call people personally to request money,” said the release. “If someone asks to come to your home to pick up payment, it‘s a scam.”
Regina police warned last week these types of scam calls were on the rise, specifically targeting seniors.
Residents are advised not to provide any personal information over the phone and if a call seems suspicious, to independently contact the family member the scammer is pretending to be before agreeing to any action. Police also encourage families to talk about these types of scams as a way to lessen the risk of victimization.
In 2022, a Regina couple nearly lost $9,400 in a grandparent scam using what they believed to be AI technology to replicate the sound of their grandson’s voice.
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Read more about their experience here.
Anyone who has received a suspected fraud call can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 to report the incident.
If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, contact either Moose Jaw Police at 1-306-694-7600 or Regina Police Service at 1-306-777-6500.
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