North Bay police warn about recent spike in grandparent scams

Police in North Bay received seven complaints Thursday about attempted grandparent scams in the community.

The North Bay Police Service has received multiple reports of grandparent scams in recent days, in which scammers call elderly individuals claiming to need money to help the victim’s grandchild.

“So far today we have received seven reports of these scams,” police spokesperson David Woolley said in an email.

“Thankfully, no one was defrauded money in any of these instances. The targeted victims were able to realize it was a scam and contact police before they made any payment to the scammers. However, in each instance, scammers were requesting several thousand dollars from the victims.”

Claim grandchildren were arrested

In most of these incidents, police said the scammers claim the “victim’s grandchild has been arrested and needs money for bail.”

“The scammers may pose as the grandchild, a legal representative for the grandchild or as law enforcement officials,” police said in a news release Thursday.

“Scammers may contact victims either over the phone, by text, e-mail or over social media. Scammers may offer to pick the money up in person or have it sent by mail or online, sometimes through the use of cryptocurrency.”

Police remind the public that police will never call you to pressure you to pay the bail for a loved one.

“We will never request that bail be paid in cash or with cryptocurrency and we will never pick up bail funds from your home or accept them through online transfer,” the release said.

‘Gag order’

“There is no such thing as a ‘gag order’ that prevents you from telling another person that someone has been arrested and charged.”

There are a number of red flags to look for to alert you to a scam, police said.

- Scammers will use urgency and threats to convince you to take out money.

- Scammers will claim that there is a ‘gag order’ preventing you from speaking about the situation.

- If you agree to pay the requested amount (cash or cryptocurrency), fraudsters will arrange to pick up the funds in person or will ask you to send cash in the mail or online.

If you receive a call from a loved one claiming to be in trouble, you should hang up and call that person directly using a phone number you already have – not one provided by the suspected fraudster.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has a number of other useful tips to protect you from fraud. They can be reached at 1-888-495-8501 or online.

“The North Bay Police Service encourages anyone who has been defrauded to contact police at 705-497-5555 and press ‘5’ to speak with an officer,” the police said.

To remain anonymous, contact Near North Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online.