The New Brunswick RCMP is continuing to warn the public of an ongoing scam that has been circulating in the province.
The Grandparent Scam preys on our elderly population by manipulating their emotions and putting them in a position to react with a sense of urgency with the goal of extorting money from a potential victim without giving them the time to think.
In some cases, a fraudster will call a potential victim pretending to be a family member in an emergency situation demanding money immediately. In other cases, a fraudster may identify themselves as a police officer, lawyer, or another form of government official, stating they are calling on behalf of a family member who is in legal trouble, with the same goal of extorting money as quickly as possible.
The latest calls regarding the grandparent scam in New Brunswick have been reported in the Greater Moncton Region, Kings, Madawaska, and York Counties.
"The key to prevention is awareness," says Cpl. Hans Ouellette, of the New Brunswick RCMP. "Talk to those in your life who may be susceptible to these types of scams, and educate them on how to avoid them. It's important to note that in Canada, being bailed out of jail with any type of payment does not exist, and that if someone calls claiming to be in a position of authority demanding money, it's a scam. Hang up, and report it right away."
You can help others protect themselves by sharing the following information:
- Do not provide confidential, personal, or financial over the phone if you receive one of these calls.
- Hang up immediately if you believe a scammer is calling you, regardless of the phone number they may be calling from.
- If you receive a voicemail from someone looking for money stating they are the police, a lawyer, or another form government official, do not call them back.
- Report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. If you or someone you know falls victim to such a fraud, also contact your local police and financial institution.
"This type of crime can be challenging, because the scammers can call from anywhere and they could be targeting different communities at the same time" continues Cpl. Hans Ouellette. "One of the convincing factors is that they are able to call from what appears to be a local phone number, even though they are not likely in your community."
"It is important that all these calls be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre", states Cpl. Ouellette. "Solving these types of crimes can be like putting together a puzzle; each report that comes in contributes to the bigger picture, and without all the pieces, it can be challenging to investigate."
For further information on the types of frauds and scams that are currently circulating, and on how to best protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.