Toronto senior loses $7,500 in grandparent scam
A Toronto grandmother can’t believe she got scammed out of $7,500, but said she paid the criminals because she thought her grandson was in jail and needed help.
The senior, who asked not to be identified, said she got a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be her grandson who said, “Nana I need your help. I’m in trouble.”
The woman said when she told the caller he didn’t sound like her grandson he said it was because he had a cold.
He claimed he was driving his friend’s car and was pulled over by police and was arrested after they found drugs in the trunk.
The woman said the caller told her, “they're going to keep me here all night Nana, I don’t want to be here.”
“I’m thinking ‘oh my God I can’t have this,’” the woman told CTV News Toronto.
She said another person then came on the phone who claimed to be a police officer and instructed her to go to the bank and withdraw $7,500 cash to pay her grandson’s bail.
When she got the money, someone came to her home to pick it up. She later found out her grandson was fine.
“It sounded so true. Everything sounded absolutely dead-on. I cannot believe I was so stupid,” said the grandmother.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the grandparent emergency scam, which includes scams involving jail, accidents and hospitals, has cost victims $1,525,094 between January and September of this year.
Hamilton Police issued a news release earlier this week regarding the grandparent scam after seven seniors in the area were duped out of thousands of dollars.
“On average, I would say it's between $5,000 to $20,000 [that is handed over to criminals] before the person realizes they are involved in some kind of fraud, "said Det. Ben Adams of Hamilton police's senior’s unit.
Adams said criminals usually say a grandchild is in jail due to being impaired and causing an accident and require money for bail or a lawyer.
Criminals are becoming increasingly cunning and are even combing through obituaries and social media to find information such as names and ages of family members to sound more convincing.
"The suspects have done some research. I’ve had several instances now where [grandparents] say they have even sounded like their grandchild," said Adams.
To avoid being scammed, be suspicious of calls that demand immediate action and remember no law enforcement agency will demand immediate payment.
Never send money to anyone under uncertain conditions and if you are unsure about what’s happening, don’t be afraid to say “no.”
When scammers ask you to keep what’s happening a secret and to tell no one, you should still reach out to a family member or call the police.
“Make a phone call, calm down for a minute and try to not get caught up in the panic they are trying to create and call somebody and ask if this is a scam," said Adams.
As for the grandmother, she said she is angry and disappointed that she is now out $7,500 and feels foolish that she fell for the scam.
"I cannot believe I fell for this. I cannot believe it, but anyways I did. I was trying to protect my grandson so he didn't have to stay in a holding cell all night,” said the woman.
The grandparent scam is one that police say is under reported so they believe there are many more victims.
It's also linked to organized crime so once the money is gone police say it's almost impossible to get it back.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.