Chatham-Kent police are issuing a warning to the public after a local woman was scammed out of $8,000.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said the woman received a phone call from a man claiming to be a lawyer and another man who was posing as the woman’s son-in-law.
The callers claimed the son-in-law had just been arrested and that he needed $8,000 in cash for a bail bond. They also told the woman not to speak to anyone, claiming there was a “gag order” in effect due to the severity of the incident.
The woman withdrew the cash from her bank and turned it over to an “appointed officer” who attended her home in a black Ford F-150.
Police said the key to protecting one’s self from scams such as this one is to recognize it.
“Remember that scammers use intimidation tactics and want to pressure you into providing information and making decisions quickly,” police said in a news release. “If you get a suspicious call, don’t panic. Take the time to do your research before taking any action.”