NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
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The South Simcoe Police Service is issuing a renewed alert about the grandparent scam following another reported incident.
The latest victim was an 86-year-old Innisfil man who recently received a call from someone claiming to be his grandson. The incident followed the typical pattern of the scam where an imposter says he was arrested and needs money for bail. The scam can involve a second person on the phone posing as a police officer, lawyer or court employee. Someone posing as a court services employee or “court courier” then collects the cash at the victim’s home.
Emergency scams prey on your fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble and rely on your immediate emotional reaction.
The South Simcoe Police Service is once again warning the public about the grandparent scam, also known as emergency frauds. We urge seniors to avoid sharing personal information, particularly on social media. If you receive such a call, report it to police so we can investigate and warn others. We urge residents to talk to older loved ones about these frauds and discuss how to avoid becoming a victim with these tips:
- Hang up and verify the story by calling the parents or other family members
- Ask the caller questions that only your loved one would be able to answer
- Resist the urge to act immediately, and never give out personal information
- Being told not to tell anyone about the call is a red flag
- Police remind everyone that in Canada, there is no cash bail system. You will never be required to provide cash, gift cards, e-transfer, or any other form of immediate payment to secure bail
- If you speak to someone who claims to be a police officer, call the law enforcement agency to verify the person’s identity
- Remember, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t
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