An 80-year-old BC grandmother has been scammed out of $14,000 by thieves in Quebec.
The woman, from Nanaimo, was told that her grandson was in jail after being involved in a car accident in Montreal.
He needed $7,500 to make bail, the thieves told her, but they later added an extra $6,500.
At least three men were involved in the nine-day scam – one playing her grandson, one playing her lawyer and another playing a police officer.
The criminal enterprise is known as the “grandson scam.”
It happened in September, police in Nanaimo said, and the victim has not retrieved any of the stolen money.
“This was a classic situation of scammers tugging at the heart strings of the victim,” said Const. Gary O’Brien from the Nanaimo RCMP.
“They took advantage of an elderly lady and exploited it to their advantage.”
The RCMP offered the following advice to avoid the scam:
Resist the urge to act immediately - This is exactly what the scammers are hoping for. If you have any doubts, simply end the conversation
Verify the caller’s identity - Ask the caller a personal question that only your grandson/granddaughter would be able to answer. Then, before making any decisions, check the story out with a family member or friend, or call your local police agency
Never send cash, gift cards or money transfers
A similar scam was reported in Kelowna earlier this year.
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