KAWARTHA LAKES-City of Kawartha Lakes OPP is investigating a grandparent scam after an unidentified suspect attended a home in Omemee demanding money.
The grandparents in this situation saved themselves from falling victim to the scam by taking these three steps:
· Stop – take a moment to think and question
· Challenge – reject, refuse, or ignore
· Protect – contact authorities
Police say at approximately 4:30 p.m. on January 4, 2023, officers were dispatched to the call, where a suspect identified themselves as an officer with “Whitby Police” and told the complainants that they were to pay $9,000 for their grandson’s bail.
Despite many factors that made the scam sound convincing, such as placing someone on the phone who sounded like their grandson, the grandparents took a moment to stop and challenge the scammers by asking for the address where their grandson was, which did not correlate with the caller’s initial story. The victims then hung up the phone believing it may be a scam and called their grandson confirming that he was okay and not in jail according to police.
Shortly after hanging up the phone, a person attended victim’s address, requesting the bail money. After they realized they would not be receiving any money, the fraudster quickly left the residence, walking away to a vehicle that was parked down the street.
The OPP would like to remind the public to be leery of ever handing out money or personal information, and to always take a moment to Stop, Challenge, and Protect. If unsure, call a friend, family member or police if you have concerns you may have been contacted by a potential scammer. Do not be pressured into making quick financial decisions and ask for contact information, so you can contact them later, once you have taken the time to think about it or consult with someone else and realize that it was a scam.
For more tips check out the links below.
https://www.antifraudcentre-
YouTube:
English – Grandparent Scam Video
French – Grandparent Scam Video
Twitter:
Twitter – Grandparent scam tips
Facebook:
Facebook – Grandparent scam tips
