Sunshine Coast RCMP are sounding alarm bells after scam artists posing as the person's grandson took a local senior for about $9,000. The fraud coming out of Montreal employs a sophisticated plan whereby the callers pose as the called party's grandson.
Const. Colin Bissell gave a short presentation to a group at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre on Oct. 26. He warned the audience to be extra vigilant when receiving unexpected calls from someone claiming to be family members in trouble.
In the latest instances the callers have said they've come to Montreal for a wedding, have been arrested for drunk driving and need the money to get out of jail. Because the person being called is taken by surprise often they will name their grandchild, which gives the caller a way to ingratiate himself with the unsuspecting senior.
Next the caller has his "lawyer" speak to the victim. They do so to have a name for the money wire. Once the person in Montreal has received the money it's impossible to retrieve.
Bissell said the best way to avoid this scam is to ask the caller for a number to call them back. If the caller is reluctant either call the police to report the call or check with family members to be sure the caller is actually a relative. Bissell advised anyone unsure of a caller's identity to ask questions of the person such as their middle name and their birth date.
Bissell urged anyone who has been called in this manner to contact the local RCMP. He also stressed that the callers are very skilled at what they do and no one should feel embarrassed by coming forward.
More than 25 people were taken advantage of on Vancouver Island. The main thing now is to stop the fraud.
Bissell will be at the Seniors Centre again today, Friday, Nov. 5 at 12:30 p.m. with more information for people including handouts.
