KENORA -- Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora are warning a telephone fraud scam artist is attempting to prey on its citizens.
Several Kenora residents reported receiving telephone calls in the past week asking them to transfer funds but police claim none of the victims fell for it.
Police refer to the tactic as the "Emergency Scam" or "Grandparent Scam," an approach that has been attempted for years but has returned to the 807 area code.
"In the typical scenario, a person receives a phone call from a con-artist claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren or children," the Kenora OPP wrote in a release.
"The caller will then claim they are in some type of trouble and need money immediately. Typically they claim to have been in a car accident or in trouble with police in a foreign country and need bail money."
Police released the script for a typical call that reads as follows:
Con-artist: Hi, Grandma/Grandpa
Victim: Hi
Con-artist: Do you know who this is?
Victim: John?
Con-artist: Yes, it is John.
The con-artist will claim to be in hospital, jail or out of the country but requests the victim not to contact other relatives because they're afraid of the consequences if anyone found out the trouble they're in.
Wanting to help their grandchild the victim sends money by credit card or a money transfer such as Money Gram or Western Union.
This scam has different variations, but is predominantly directed towards seniors.
Police urge calling family friends or members before sending money or providing credit card information.
Anyone who receives a call like this is asked to report it to the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
