Smartphone in the hand (image via istockphoto)
Fraud prevention experts are warning Canadians to be vigilant with the reports of “grandparent scams” on the rise.
Last year, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received reports of 379 cases of scams that target seniors, involving 115 victims, and around $1.7 million dollars in losses.
Since the start of this year, the number of cases has jumped to 674, with 273 victims and $2.7 million dollars in losses.
Police across the country say that the scams, which are also known as emergency scams, typically involve someone impersonating a grandchild, niece, or nephew over the phone, claiming they urgently need money after an accident or arrest, complete with the scammer sounding distressed and starting to cry.
The phony calls may even include a second person impersonating a police officer or lawyer.