the OPP
The OPP would like the public to be aware of a telephone scam affecting Rainy River District.
Recently, individuals have received telephone calls, which are similar to the “Emergency or Grandparent Scam” that has occurred in the past throughout Canada and the U.S.
In the typical scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from a con artist claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren.
The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble and need money immediately.
Typically, they claim being in a car accident, trouble returning from a foreign country, or they need bail money.
Locally, the male suspect caller is identifying himself as being from Quebec with a 514 area code.
He is asking for the victim to wire $17,500 through Western Union.
The OPP can confirm that this is a telephone scam and to use caution.
As this scam is directed towards older adult, 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, visit www.phonebusters.com
