String of grandparent scams makes victims of half a dozen Caledon residents

Police are sounding the alarm after at least half a dozen people have fallen victim to a grandparent scam in Caledon over the last two months.

The OPP says officers from the Caledon detachment have received multiple calls since May about fraudsters targeting residents in what’s commonly called a “grandparent scam.”

With at least six cases in the last two months alone, police are warning the public to be on guard for potential scammers to avoid becoming victims themselves.

In one of the scams, police say a victim received a call from someone claiming to be a friend of their grandson. The fraudsters said the grandson was involved in a collision and drugs were found, and that the victim needed to send money for bail. The scammers then used a courier service to pick up the funds, police say. The suspects also knew personal details and information, like the grandson’s full name.

And in another case, a victim was told their grandson was facing charges following a motor vehicle crash. Fraudsters impersonated a police officer and a lawyer, convincing the victim not to tell anyone about the incident as it was under a “gag” order. Scammers ended up defrauding the victim twice before they realized what had happened and alerted police.

The recent string of scams has the OPP reminding residents to be aware of potential scammers. Common themes in the scam are to request money for legal fees immediately, and the use of a courier service to pick up the funds.

Police have three words of advice if you receive a call from someone identifying themselves as a friend or family member urgently in need of money – “slow things down.”

Here are some tips that can help you avoid becoming a victim of a grandparent scam:

• Contact your local police service and report the incident immediately
• If you are told that someone has been arrested, ask for the address of the police station or the courthouse where they are being held
• Text or call the family member on a trusted number and ask them a question that only they would know the answer to.
• Make every effort to confirm that it is the person that they say they are
• Do not provide your home address
• Do not provide any banking or personal information
• Ask for a call-back number to reach them later

All of the investigations are ongoing and police are urging anyone with information to contact the Caledon OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also contact Peel CrimeStoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.