Photo: Halton Police
This month is Fraud Awareness Month.
Speaking with Detective Derek Gray with the Halton Regional Police Service Elder Abuse and Financial Crime unit. He says residents should be aware of what is often referred to as the ‘Grandson Scam’.
He adds that the people will ask for money to cover non-existent charges. It might be $5000 to cover some fake legal bills, and that it has to be in cash. Someone will come to pick up the money, and then they could call again asking for me money. They’ll say that someone was injured in the accident and now there are more legal bills. The scammers will try to get as much money as possible out of it.
Detective Gray says many of the scams they cover will feature a theme of secrecy. The fraudsters will propose being secretive about the money because “I don’t want my parents to be mad.” He says you’ll have to put your brain to work when it comes to these scams.
He says you should spend as little time on the phone with these people as possible; the more you listen to them, the more you fall for their tricks. What you should do is hang on and try to contact the person you think you’re speaking with, or at the very least, contact their parents.
Never be secretive with these kinds of things. Detective Gray says the people at the bank are trained to see potential fraud scams. If the person on the phone is telling you to say the money is for something like furniture, you should understand that it’s a red flag. If the money has to be in cash, as opposed to a bank draft, the people at the bank will see that as a red flag.
The following are tips to protect yourself from emergency scams:
- If you suspect that you are being contacted by a fraudster call Halton Police at 905-825-4777 or 911 if it is an emergency.
- If you are at the bank, do not lie—tell the bank employee why you are retrieving the cash. The employees are trained to assist you in recognizing possible frauds and will help protect your money.
- Remember: Scammers count on the fact that victims will want to act quickly to help their loved one in an emergency.
- Caution: Never give money to anyone you don’t know and trust. Verify the person’s identity before you take any steps to help.
- Think: Don’t give out any personal information to the caller.
- Investigate: Ask the person questions that only your loved one would be able to answer. Call someone you both know to verify the story. Scammers can learn a lot about you from social media, or while talking to you on the phone.
- Ask yourself: Does the caller’s story make sense?
- Important: Police, lawyers and the court will never ask you to give money to someone at your door.
Anyone with information pertaining to a fraud or any other crime is asked to contact the Regional Fraud Bureau Intake Office at 905-465-8741 or Fraud@haltonpolice.ca.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
