CALL POLICE or hang up if in doubt from sharp talking salesman on the phone.
The Toronto Police are warning elderly residents of a fraud scheme called the ‘grandparent scam’ targeting seniors in our area at this Yuletide time of the year.
Officers of the Financial Crimes Unit said in this scam a grandparent would receive a phone call from a person claiming to be their grandchild calling to say hello.
“The caller states that they have been arrested
CALL POLICE if in doubt.
and require cash to be released from custody,” according to police. “The phone is passed to a person posing as a police officer and the “officer” demands a cash payment for their grandchild’s release from custody.”
“The fake police officer instructs the grandparent to withdraw funds from their bank and place the money in an envelope,” according to a police release.
Police said “the grandparent is then instructed to hand over the envelope to a man who would later attend their residence to collect the cash.”
Detectives said the grandparent is told that there is a “gag order” on the case and not to discuss this with anyone
The Toronto Police Service is requesting anyone who receives this type of call or solicitation to contact police. Police never contact family members and request cash bail or send someone to their home to pick up bail money.