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Police are warning Stratford-area seniors to be wary of so-called “grandparent scams” as local investigators respond to an increasing number of reports over the past several weeks.
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Grandparents scams typically involve a phone call from a scammer posing as a grandchild who’s desperately in need of money because of an emergency.
In many cases, scammers are able to trick their victims into providing them with the name of a grandchild while they continue to solicit other personal information. It’s also common for scammers to ask for money through the purchase of gift cards.
One recent victim in Perth County was stopped from withdrawing “several thousand dollars” when staff at their bank in St. Marys recognized the scam, Const. Darren Fischer, a Stratford Police spokesperson, said in a press release Tuesday.
Stratford police released a list of tips to help people protect themselves from this type of fraud:
- Never offer information to the caller, including the name of the person they’re claiming to be, before they identify themselves;
- Ask the caller personal questions that only that person would know;
- Hang up the phone and attempt to contact another family member to confirm the whereabouts of your loved one; and
- Never send money for payments via gift cards.
Police are also encouraging anyone who has received a call of this nature to file a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Those who have experienced a financial loss should contact Stratford Police.
