A Port Moody senior was bilked out of $7,600 after falling prey to a scheme colloquially called a grandparent scam.
The 79-year-old received a phone call in September from a woman who identified herself as the elderly woman's favourite granddaughter. The caller went on to say she had been in an accident, was being held by Quebec police and needed money wired to pay for damages.
Unfortunately, say police, the woman sent the money and then a few days later contacted her real granddaughter only to find out she had been scammed.
This is not a new trick, said Port Moody Police Department's Const. Luke van Winkel.
The pattern of the scam is identical. An older person gets a phone call from a person claiming to be a grandchild, and says they're in trouble of some kind - a car accident, problems getting home from vacation, or in need of bail money.
Police advise if you get such a call to immediately notify authorities and never send money without verifying the validity of the call.
For information on fraud safety, protection and current frauds affecting Canadians, visit antifraudcentre.ca.
