Beware of 'grandparents scam,' Hamilton police say

Hamilton police are dealing with a rash of “grandparent scams” where thieves call and claim to be grandchildren in distress, and get the seniors to send money.

Police have seen a number of them so far this year, said Det. Terri-Lynn Collings from the Hamilton Police crimes against seniors unit.

Grandparent scams were prevalent in Hamilton in 2012, she said, and now they’re back.

“Things quieted down and now they’re starting up again,” she said.

“Definitely here in Hamilton, we’re seeing that rise.”

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The scam works like this: a fraudster calls a senior claiming to be a younger relative – usually a grandson or granddaughter. Often, the scammer lets the senior fill in the blank.

“When they answer the phone, the person will say ‘Hey Grandpa, it’s your grandson,’ and they say ‘Is that Michael?’” Collings said. “It happens very quickly.”

The supposed grandchildren will often say that they have gotten a head or face injury, and that’s why their voices sound different. Then they’ll hand the phone off to someone claiming to be a lawyer.

They ask for money to get out of a situation, such as an accident or arrest, and ask them not to tell other family members. They usually ask for money via a money transfer agency.

Collings doesn’t know how many such cases Hamilton Police have seen this year, but there have been several.

Here's how to avoid the scam:

• Don’t enter your personal, credit card or online account information on a website you’re not certain is genuine.
• Check the website address carefully. Scammers set up fake websites with similar addresses.
• Don’t give you bank information over the phone or email.
• Destroy personal information. Don’t just throw it out. Cut up, burn or shred old bills, statements or cards.
• Don’t agree to withdraw large sums of cash and send it to a stranger, or to meet someone you don’t know to give them cash.
• If you’re suspicious about a transaction, check with family, friends or police before sending money.
• Lottery agencies will never ask a winner to pay any fees up front for a prize.
• If the offer sounds suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.
• Resist pressure to “act now.” Don’t let yourself be pressured.

For more information, visit hamiltonpolice.on.ca or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcenter.ca.