The Nova Scotia RCMP is warning the public about a scam that is occurring in communities across Nova Scotia, where victims are being asked to provide money.
In the past week, RCMP officers in the Halifax Regional Municipality and in Pictou County have responded to four complaints of scams sometimes referred to as the "grandparent scam" or "emergency scam." Victims are contacted in what appears to be an emergency situation and asked to provide money to alleviate a bad circumstance of a loved one, such as being in jail or in a car accident.
Law enforcement, court officials and bailiffs across Canada do not solicit the release of someone for money.
Scammers create a sense of urgency; learn how to protect yourself against these frauds:
- Slow things down, hang up and reach out to the relative with a number you know and trust.
- Report the incident to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Never provide personal or banking information to the caller.
- Refuse to send money through e-transfers, gift cards, credit card, crypto currency, such as Bitcoin, or anything else of value in an 'urgent situations.'
- Be careful; scammers can spoof telephone numbers and make it appear as though they're calling from a trusted source.
- Contact the authority represented through a legitimate contact source, not the one provided by the contactor (e.g., the phone number listed on an official website or in a phonebook).
- Never agree to meet with someone who called you asking for money.
Anyone who thinks they could be a victim, knows someone who could be a victim, or has information about these scams, is encouraged to contact police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
File #: 24-103638, 24-103099, 2024-1107873