The Cobourg Police Service is warning residents about the dangers of grandparent scams after an 80-year-old man lost about $5,000 in a recent fraud case.
According to police, the victim received a phone call from someone pretending to be his son. The caller claimed to have been arrested and said he needed money to pay for a lawyer. A man then arrived at the senior’s home and collected the cash. The incident remains under investigation.
“This type of scam preys on a person’s emotions and trust,” Cobourg police said in a statement. “It uses urgency and fear to convince people to send large sums of money.”
Police said grandparent or “emergency” scams often involve someone posing as a grandchild, family friend, lawyer or police officer. Scammers claim the relative is in trouble – injured, arrested or ill – and urgently needs money. They may even send someone in person to collect the payment and insist on secrecy by giving a fake code word.
Authorities urge anyone who receives such a call to hang up and contact someone they trust or report it to police.
Anyone who has been the victim of fraud should call Cobourg police at 905-372-6821 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. A full list of known scams and tips to protect yourself is available on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website.
Police also encourage residents to talk to friends and family about fraud prevention.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)