The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is warning seniors in the community to be aware of an increase on grandparent scams.
These scams target senior citizens and their savings, with callers often impersonating police officers and exploiting the victim’s concerns for loved ones. The scammers will usually say that they are an officer and that a child or grandchild has been arrested, requiring immediate bail money to be released from custody.
Scammers will often create a sense of urgency, insisting that payments be made as soon as possible in the form of cash, credit cards, gift cards, gold, cryptocurrency or other routes.
Once a victim provides payment, fraudsters will often continue to contact the victim, demanding more money for legal fees, court costs and other charges.
“These criminals are manipulative, convincing, and highly skilled at creating panic. They deliberately prey on seniors by exploiting the fear and concern they have for their loved ones,” says Staff Sgt. Mike Zaparyniuk of the EPS Financial Crimes Section.
“We want people to understand that the police will never call and demand money, gold, gift cards, cryptocurrency, credit cards, or any other form of payment to secure someone’s release from custody. If you receive a call like this, stop, hang up, and verify the information independently.”
Investigators say that there have been 21 reports of seniors being targeted by scammers in a similar fashion within the past two months.
Police remind the public that they would never request cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold or credit cards to secure someone’s release. They wouldn’t demand immediate payment over the phone or instruct people to keep a police matter a secret from loved ones.
If you receive a call claiming that a loved one has been arrested and needs money, police encourage you to hang up and not to provide any personal or financial information. They ask that you reach out to the family member directly using a trusted phone number.
Investigators ask Edmontonians to speak with seniors that they know about these scams to ensure that they are not victimized.
Anyone who believes that they or someone they know has been targeted by a grandparent scam is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.
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