Monday, May 6, 2024

The Sûreté du Québec in the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau has received reports of "grandparent" fraud.

At least 4 reports have been made to Sûreté du Québec police concerning attempted fraud against seniors. The targeted individuals were called by telephone and told that a loved one, often a grandson, was in prison and needed a few thousand dollars to be released. During the telephone conversation, the scammers' staging sometimes involved a person posing as a police officer or lawyer.

Scammers use a variety of stratagems to achieve their ends and extract money from their victims. When using these scams, scammers take advantage of the vulnerability of certain elderly people to put pressure on them.

• That's why you should always make sure you've done your due diligence before trusting anyone.
• Never hand over money to a stranger or to someone whose identity you have not verified.
• If someone claims to be acting on behalf of an organization, contact the organization directly.
• Never divulge personal information to someone who cannot prove his or her legitimacy.
• When someone is too insistent or even insolent (e.g., demands your answer on the spot), don't trust them.
• Call the person's parents, another family member or friends to verify the validity of the story presented to you.

The Sûreté du Québec invites citizens to consult the Tips section of its website (www.sq.gouv.qc.ca) to learn more about fraud, or visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website at www.centreantifraude.ca.