Mounties warn of phone fraud scheme in N.B.
“Granny” scams making the rounds in province again, RCMP warns, noting it’s received reports of calls from phony cops claiming targets’ loved ones in custody, in need of cash
Seniors in New Brunswick are being targeted once again with a new round of a telephone fraud scheme commonly known as a “granny scam,” the RCMP warns.
“Police have received reports of victims receiving phone calls from an individual claiming to be a police officer who had one of the victim's family members in custody,” the force said in a news release Friday.
“A large sum of money is then demanded to have the family member released from jail.”
Numerous New Brunswickers - mainly seniors - have fallen victim to similar scams in recent years all around the province.
The scheme is often referred to as a “granny scam,” given how often senior-citizen victims are told grandchildren are in trouble and in need of quick cash.
"Be cautious of any call you receive from a number you do not recognize, especially if you are being asked for a large sum of money," New Brunswick RCMP Cpl. Hans Ouellette spokesperson said in the release.
"This type of scam often targets senior citizens that have limited access to the internet or who don't use social media, and preys on the fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble."
He pointed out that Canada’s criminal-justice system doesn’t really operate on a cash-bail-only system for release from custody.
Anyone who receives a suspected scam call is advised to refrain from sharing confidential, personal or financial details over the phone or online; to hang up immediately if you think you’re receiving a scam call; to refrain from calling numbers left in voicemails from suspected scammers; and to report such calls to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
The release also said that anyone who has fallen victim to such a scam should contact their local policing agency and their financial institution.
Ouellette said it’s also important for people to talk about these issues with loved ones.
"It's important to keep family members informed about scams so that they don't become a victim," he said in the release.
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