The Grandparent Scam

#DontGetScammed by THE 'GRANDPARENT SCAM' | Detective David Coffey | @TorontoPolice Financial Crimes Unit Often targeting seniors, the Grandparent Scam takes advantage of your good nature to help your loved ones during an emergency. But, the caller is not your loved one, and the emergency is not real. You receive an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be a relative. They tell you they’re in a crisis and need your help. The person pretending to be your relative says they’ve been arrested and need bail money. Then they put another scammer on the phone pretending to be a police officer or lawyer. They trick you into believing this situation is real and they will swear you to secrecy. The scammers will go to your home to collect cash or they will provide a bank account for you to transfer money to them. Protect yourself by: • Asking questions only your loved one will know the answers to • Never saying the names of your loved ones during the phone call • Hanging up and telling someone you trust, and, • Confirming the emergency and contacting your loved one through family If you are a victim of the Grandparent Scam, report the fraud to police. Visit the Financial Crimes Unit page at tps.ca for more information and tips so you Don’t Get Scammed: https://www.tps.ca/fraud/