Calgary police warn of spike in ‘grandparent scam’ cases
Posted Jul 31, 2023 10:37 am.
Calgary police say they are seeing a spike in grandparent scams using new tactics to target seniors.
Authorities say there were 99 reports of the scam between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year.
“Scammers use convincing and high-pressure tactics to prey upon the emotions of senior citizens, ultimately taking advantage of their trust and generosity,” said Det. Darcy Williams of the Calgary Police Service (CPS). “Our goal is to help facilitate open conversations between seniors, caregivers and families while educating citizens about the red flags of this prevalent scam. We encourage anyone who has been victim to report the incident to police immediately.”
Investigators are issuing a warning to help locals know what to look out for to avoid being scammed.
According to police, scammers have contacted seniors by phone, claiming to be their grandchild who had been arrested and was in urgent need of money to cover bail costs.
Payment was usually collected in person by a scammer posing as a court-appointed courier, who would come to the homes of victims or have seniors meet them elsewhere with the money.
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Investigators say this often created a potentially dangerous situation for the senior.
Now, police explain that scammers are contacting seniors directly via text message and demanding payment via e-transfer — eliminating the need to meet in person to collect the cash.
The CPS wants to remind locals that court-appointed couriers don’t exist — if someone asks to come to your home to pick up a payment, it’s a red flag.
Demanding instant payment is also a red flag, according to police. E-transfers are instantaneous and if the recipient isn’t local, it can be difficult to get the lost funds back.
They add, “if it has to be now, it had to be no,” explaining the use of fear or high-pressure tactics is usually cause for concern.
It’s also a good practice to speak to family, friends, caregivers, and other trusted individuals to verify the legitimacy of the claims being made before taking an action.
Anyone with information about a grandparent scam is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
