Web posted on February 02, 2010

Emergency or "Grandparent" Scam

(County of Wellington, On) Less than reputable people will always continue to think up new and inventive ways to get take your money. Police receive calls weekly from victims reporting stories they have been told with some different twists on an old theme.

The County of Wellington OPP would like to remind you to be cautious with anyone soliciting for charity or asking for money over the phone. One agency that tracks these types of scams and assists police with investigations is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (Phonebusters). It was established in January 1993 and is jointly operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Competition Bureau Canada. The CAFCC is a national call centre where victims can report fraud complaints. The information is used to assist in investigations.

The County of Wellington OPP has had some victims recently within the County, call reporting the old Emergency or "Grandparent" Scam, the caller wanted money sent to a nearby location to help out.

Though the "Emergency Scam" (or sometimes referred to as the "Grandparent Scam") has been around for years, the RCMP led Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (Phonebusters) have found a marked increase in the number of complaints in the last two months.

In the typical scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from con-artist claiming to be one of his or hers grandchildren. The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble, usually a car accident, need money to return for a Christmas visit, or even bail money and need money immediately.

A typical call can go something like this:

Con-artist: Hi, Grandma/Grandpa

Victim: Hi.

Con-artist: Do you know who this is?

Victim: John?

Con-artist: Yeah.

Victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent as the caller specifically asks that they do not want other relatives to know what has happened by asking "Can you please help me? I'm in jail (or in the hospital / or in some type of financial need). But don't tell Dad. He would kill me if he found out, please sent the money ASAP. I'm scared"

Wanting to help their grandchild, the victim sends money by a money transfer company such as Money Gram or Western Union. Variations on the scam exist with an old neighbour, or friend of the family but predominantly the emergency scam is directed toward the Grandparents as they tend to be more trusting and want to help.

Basically it all boils down to the same thing, use caution when giving money. Slow down and make some calls to check or verify the story that you may have been told. Don't become a victim of the scam.
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