The Saint John Police are warning the public that fraudsters are targeting our area using the Grandparent Scam.
It is reported that:
Recently, there have been an increasing number of complaints to police about the Grandparent Scam.
Generally speaking, the fraudster calls seniors posing as police officers, lawyers and clergy stating that their grandchildren were either in an accident or in jail requiring cash to help them.
Tips to protect yourself:
-Take time to verify the story. Scammers count on you wanting to quickly help your loved ones in an emergency.
-Ask the person on the phone questions that only your loved one would be able to answer and verify their identity before taking steps to help.
-Never send money to anyone you don’t know and trust.
-Never give out any personal information to the caller.
The Saint John Police would like friends or family members to reach out to seniors that they know and notify them of this scam.
If you receive a call of this nature, please hang up and contact the family member directly with the number that you have for them. If the caller claims to be a police officer, hang up and call the local police to confirm the legitimacy of the call.
For more information on how to protect yourself, visit Protect yourself from scams and fraud (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca)
Together a safe, secure, healthy community
For more news, visit Saint John Police Force | City of Saint John, New Brunswick
