(TOWNSHIP OF SOUTHGATE, ON) – Grey County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding citizens that “emergency” scams, also known as “grandparent” scams, target vulnerable persons and seniors by playing upon their emotions and rob them of their money. This reminder comes after a Township of Southgate senior was defrauded of $10,500.
The victim contacted the OPP on February 13, 2015, after realizing that he had been scammed. The victim believed he had received a phone call from his son who claimed he was in a Quebec jail as a result of a drinking and driving charge which resulted in someone getting hurt. He needed bail money. Money was sent via Western Union. The victim was then contacted by someone claiming to be his son’s lawyer requesting monies for court costs. Again, money was sent via Western Union. The victim was contacted a third time, whom he believed was his son, stating the person that was injured as a result of the accident has died and he was being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Additional monies were sent for legal fees. A total of $10,500 had been sent to the fraudster. Several fictitious names were used including, Patrick MCKINNA, Corine MORIN and Bernard LUSSIER.
In the typical emergency scam, the victim will receive a frantic phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or loved one. The caller will explain that they are involved in some sort of mishap or are having trouble returning from a foreign country and need money right away.
Scammers know how to gather your personal information for criminal means. They use phony social media accounts to find real names, real interests, and real phone numbers. They’ll even call in the middle of the night to take advantage of the confusion caused by awaking suddenly with the expectation its bad news at that hour. Most of all, they rely upon the victim’s desire to help their loved ones, whatever the cost.
Be aware of some warning signs:
Urgency– The scammer always makes the request sound very urgent, which may cause the victim to not verify the story.
Fear– The scammer plays on the victim’s emotions by generating a sense of fear. For instance they may say, “I am scared and I need help from you.”
Secrecy– The scammer pleads with the victim not to tell anyone about the situation, such as, “Please don’t tell Dad, he would be so mad.”
Request for Money Transfer– Money is usually requested to be sent by a money transfer company such as Money Gram, Western Union or even through your own bank institution.
To avoid becoming a victim, police advise you to first check with another family member or trusted friend to verify the information BEFORE sending money or providing credit card information by phone or e-mail. It is vitally important that the incident be reported every time it occurs, to allow police to investigate and prevent others from becoming victims.
If you or someone you know may have been the victim of an ‘emergency’ scam, contact your local police service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.
All consumers, regardless of age and gender, can take basic steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud, such as never giving out personal information over the phone, the internet or social media. Remember, if it is too good to be true…it probably is.”
Knowledge is power. The key to preventing from becoming a victim of fraud is to know the warning signs and share your knowledge with the people you care about.