An 82-year-old Peterborough resident has been defrauded of $10,000 in a variation of the grandparent scam.
In the grandparent scam, a victim receives a call from someone pretending to be their grandchild and in trouble, and asks the victim for a credit card number of to send money. A more recent variation of the scam has someone pretending to be a member of law enforcement or a lawyer asking for money for a grandchild who they claim has been arrested or in an accident.
On Thursday (March 10), the 82-year-old Peterborough resident received a call from a man claiming to be a police officer who told the victim $10,000 was required for their granddaughter’s release from custody.
The man made arrangements to come to the victim’s residence to collect the money. After handing over the money to the man, the victim became concerned and called police.
The suspect was described to police as a white man in his early twenties.
“Peterborough police are concerned that someone went to a residence and are asking people to be extra cautious,” reads a media release from the Peterborough Police Service, who add police do not call residents requesting money for the release of a suspect.
Police advise that, if you suspect you have received an email or call that may be a scam, to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or by calling 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday).
If you are a victim or have questions about an interaction, you can call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 x274 or you can fill out a report online.
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