As reports of the ’emergency/grandparent’ scam have increased throughout eastern Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Kingston Police are reminding citizens once again to not fall victim to this fraudulent scheme that involves emotional extortion.
OPP detachments from across the East Region are warning the public that there has been an increase in reports of this scam, in which scammers target vulnerable persons and seniors by playing upon their emotions and fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble.
Both Kingston Police and OPP have released previous warnings of this scam, including details on an arrest made in Toronto reportedly connected with the on-going telephone scam.
“In the typical emergency scam, the victim will receive a frantic phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or loved one,” OPP said in a media release. “The caller will explain that they are involved in some sort of mishap like a car accident or are having trouble returning from a foreign country and need money right away. The scammer will often insist that the victim does not tell anyone.”
Kingston Police also alerted the public to increased reports of this scam, noting that in their experience the scammer requests bail money, and will often send a ‘bailiff’ to pick up the money once the target has withdrawn the cash from their bank.
“A legitimate courier company is then contacted by the suspect and hired to pick up a parcel from the victim, who has been…
