OPP Media Release/ Public Reminder
(FORT FRANCES, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police would like the public to be reminded and aware of a telephone scam that has resurfaced in the District of Rainy River.
Recently, individuals have received telephone calls. The calls are similar to the “Emergency or Grandparent Scam” that has occurred in the past throughout Canada and the United States.
In the typical scenario, a grandparent or elder receives a phone call from a con-artist claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren or other relative.
The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble and needs assistance and money immediately. Typically they claim being in a car accident, trouble returning from a distant location or they need bail money. Locally, the male suspect caller is identifying himself as being from Quebec area. He is asking for the victim to wire money through Western Union.
The OPP can confirm that this is a telephone scam and to use caution. As this scam is directed toward our older adult friends, we ask that family with older adults and those organizations that work with seniors to discuss what scams are occurring to make everyone aware that such frauds do exists.
For more information about this fraud or other similar scams, see the following link http://www.phonebusters.com/english/home-eng.html
