Grandparent bilked out of money in Chatham-Kent scam
Chatham-Kent police are warning the public after a grandparent scam in the region.
Officers responded to a fraud complaint in Howard Township this week.
Through investigation, police say they learned the victim received a call from someone posing as their grandson. The “grandson” advised he and his friends were stopped by the police while driving, and the officer arrested him after a gun and drugs were found in the car.
The “grandson” asked the victim for a significate amount of money to bail him out of jail. The victim was also told there was a “gag order” in place, which prohibited them from telling anyone about the incident.
The victim wired the money to the “grandson”, but police say it didn’t stop there. The “grandson” continued to contact the victim with other stories and requests for more money. The Chatham-Kent Police are currently investigating the matter.
The Chatham-Kent Police Services would like to remind the public to use caution if they receive a phone call from people claiming to be a family member (grandchild) in trouble and requiring money. Please review the tips and Things to know about the Canadian Criminal Justice System below. Fraudsters will use panic, threatening language, or an aggressive tone to scare you into making payments. Please don’t do it. Call someone for advice.
Tips to keep yourself safe:
- 1. Take time to think. The fraudster will make it sound urgent to pressure you.
- 2. Contact the family member in question. Emotions might be running high but take the time to check.
- 3. Ask questions only family members would know.
- 4. Call someone you trust or the police for an opinion about the call (fraudsters will say they don’t want anyone to know because they are embarrassed or there’s a gag order in place).
- 5. Do not send any money.
Things to know about the Canadian Criminal Justice System:
- 1. Police Services hold people for bail for very particular reasons, and very seldom does it require a deposit of money. If a deposit is needed for bail, it will be through the court system. The exchange will ONLY occur at the courthouse.
- 2. Police Services and the Ontario Court of Justice will NEVER attend your home or send a courier to retrieve money from you.
- 3. Police Services and the Ontario Court of Justice will NEVER ask you for gift cards as payment.
If you live in Chatham-Kent and believe you or someone you know has been a victim of this scam, please call 519-352-1234.
For more information on how to recognize and protect yourself from a scam, please see https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/security/protect-yourself-against-fraud.html.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.