Provincial Police continue to raise the alarm about seniors being targeted by fraudsters.
Ontario Provincial Police, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, and the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario are urging Ontarians to talk to their loved ones following a spike in the number of “Grandparent Scam” incidents over the past few years.
These types of scams typically involve the victim being contacted by someone posing as a family member who says they have been arrested and require cash for bail. Eventually, the caller will ask for money by using threatening language or an aggressive tone to scare people into making payments.
In 2022, the OPP responded to 348 incidents involving emergency scams across Ontario, with many of those complaints originating in West Region detachments such as Lambton, Essex and Oxford counties. That represents a 222% increase compared to 2021.
Authorities are asking residents to talk to their families and friends, particular seniors, on how to avoid becoming a victim. That includes checking with another family member or trusted friend to verify the information before giving money or providing credit card information by phone or e-mail.
If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and also report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if there was no financial loss.