By TERRY PUGH
An elderly couple in Warman lost more than $10,000 of their hard-earned savings earlier this month after being defrauded by a ‘grandparent scam’ perpetrated by high-pressure crooks who may have also targeted seniors in the Prince Albert area.
Warman RCMP Staff Sergeant Jason Teniuk said the incident is being investigated by police, adding that this type of crime is becoming increasingly prevalent and people should watch for telltale red flags if they should find themselves in a similar situation.
“At about noon on December 10, an elderly couple received a call from someone claiming to be their grandson, who said he was in an accident and needed several thousand for bail money,” said Teniuk in an e-mail to the Gazette December 11.
While the caller did not sound like the couple’s grandson, he claimed that he had a cold and passed the phone over to an individual claiming to be the grandson’s lawyer.
“The alleged lawyer stated they had connections to a law firm in Saskatoon and would send a courier over to collect the money. Within minutes, a well-dressed female arrived at the residence and collected the money. A short time later, the ‘grandson’ called back and said he needed the funding in American currency, and they needed to e-transfer another $3000, which was done.
“The elderly couple then called the grandson, who had no idea what they were talking about. They lost in excess of $10,000.”
In addition to targeting the Warman couple, it appears these perpetrators have also tried to run this scam in the Prince Albert area.
On December 13, the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) released a photo of a person of interest connected to a family/grandparent emergency scam that has generated multiple reports.
The person in the photo appears to be the same woman who showed up at the couple’s home to collect the money. Anyone with information on the identity of this woman should contact PAPS or the Warman RCMP.
Teniuk said these types of crimes are difficult to investigate and rarely result in charges.
“It is even more rare to recover money that was lost,” he said, adding there are a few things the public can do when confronted with this type of situation.
First, if residents get a similar call from a relative, and if it is from an unknown number, tell them you will call them back before committing to anything, said Teniuk. Then try to contact the relative through normal means.
If you believe you are being targeted by a scam, Teniuk also suggests calling the police as soon as possible.
“We can usually spot frauds instantly, and you may be able to provide us with information to make an arrest,” he said. “We strongly encourage the public to call us if they are unsure. (The Warman RCMP detachment phone number is 306-975-1670; the Martensville RCMP detachment phone number is 306-975-1610.)”
Likewise, contacting your financial institution can nip a potential scam in the bud.
“Discuss any requests for money with your bank,” said Teniuk. “They are also experts at detecting frauds. Fraudsters will often discourage potential victims from contacting their bank as banks also see a lot of different frauds.”
Teniuk also advised people to be careful what they post online. “Scammers can obtain a great deal of information from social media accounts to make the scam that much more believable,” he said.
Teniuk said criminals also use high-pressure tactics to force victims to make rash decisions.
“Take the time to look into what is being asked of you,” he said. “There is rarely a situation where money is required immediately.”
He said if someone shows up at your door, ask to see their ID; and if they’re selling something, ask for a business license.
“The more questions you ask, the better off you will be,” he said. “Taking the time to sort out what is going on before doing something rash will make a huge difference. If you are unsure, call your local RCMP or bank and discuss the request.”