TIMMINS - Scam artists preying on loving family members are active in the area, warn police.
Timmins Police has been receiving reports of the "grandparent scam".
The situation involves a scammer calling someone and claiming to be a legal representative for the victim's family member.
"The suspect told the victims that their family members had been arrested by police. They demanded payment for bail and legal representation. the suspect used a sense of urgency to convince the victims that they needed to act immediately. Arrangements were made for the suspect to attend the victim's residence to retrieve a quantity of cash," reads a police news release.
In most cases when people are in custody, police say that the person is released with a promise to pay if they don't meet the conditions of the release. Police will never ask family members for cash, cryptocurrency or other forms of payment such as gift cards.
If you receive a suspicious call, police suggest:
- Call your loved one, the police or the lawyer's office back using their official phone number to verify the claim.
- Don't give out your personal information over the phone or online.
- Say no if you're feeling pressured.
If you've experienced a scam, fraud or cybercrime, it should also be reported to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre.
