The Whitehorse RCMP say three cases of grandparent scams have been reported since May. They are warning Yukoners to be vigilant against this type of scam.
In a grandparent scam, described in a July 22 notice from the police, the scammer calls or texts victims, pretending to be a law enforcement official or a family member in need of help. Then, they pressure the victim to send money. This money is often given to scammers in the form of cash or crypto-currency.
The scammers targeting Yukoners are pretending to be grandchildren who need bail money after being arrested. The RCMP note that the Canadian Criminal Justice System does not allow for people to be bailed out of jail with cash or cryptocurrency.
Whitehorse RCMP say that those who receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a family member in an emergency situation should end the call and call that family member at the phone number they already have for them – not the phone number given to them by the potential scammer.
If the person claims to be law enforcement, hang up and call your local police directly. Do not use the phone number provided to you by the potential scammer. Instead, find the phone number from a reputable source.
The RCMP warns against trusting caller ID names and numbers. Scammers can make it look like they’re calling from a legitimate source.
People are also advised to be mindful of what they post online. Scammers can use social media posts and dating site profiles to learn about potential targets and their loved ones.
The Whitehorse RCMP notice states that concerned individuals can find out more about grandparent scams and other types of fraud at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
