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Fraudsters are preying on seniors in the Thousand Islands region, using fear and urgency to steal thousands in a growing wave of “grandparent scams,” the Gananoque Police Service reiterated this week.
“What sparked the media post (last week) was a local resident had reported an estimated financial loss of $6,000,” said Sgt. Lynsay Dickson, as the Thousand Islands region grapples with a surge in grandparent scams.
Fraudsters, sometimes linked to organized crime, are preying on seniors by posing as distressed grandchildren or even law enforcement officers, demanding urgent financial assistance.
“Scammers often obtain personal details about their victims through various means, including social media, data breaches and phishing schemes,” Dickson added. “They may also use public records or information shared by the victims themselves.”
These scams exploit fear, with perpetrators requesting money through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or even in-person cash pickups.
Police stress that officers never handle bail payments, and that there is no such thing as “court-appointed couriers.”
Dickson noted that the scams can range from isolated incidents by individuals to operations involving larger criminal networks, depending on law enforcement’s observations.
To combat the rising threat, the Gananoque Police Service has hosted, and will continue to host, information sessions aimed at educating vulnerable populations, particularly seniors, on safeguarding their personal information.
Authorities urge residents to verify the authenticity of distress calls by contacting family members directly and avoiding numbers provided by potential scammers.
Establishing a family safe word is recommended to confirm identities during emergencies.
Anyone who has been targeted or has fallen victim to such scams is encouraged to report incidents to local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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