MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) is advising the public to be vigilant, following several reports of the grandparent/parent scam.
In the grandparent/parent scam, the caller pretends to be a grandchild or family member who has been arrested or is in danger.
The caller immediately indicates they need money and states that a lawyer, police officer, or judge will contact them.
Once information is obtained from the initial call, someone impersonating a lawyer, police officer, or judge makes a second call to the victim. The victim is instructed to withdraw a large amount of money and await further directions.
The MJPS reminds the public that police, lawyers, judges, or jails do not call people personally to request money. Another sign to keep in mind is, if the caller is requesting payment via gift cards or Bitcoin, it’s a scam.
In a recent incident, the scammer went to a victim's house to collect the payment in person, MJPS said.
"If someone asks to come to your home to pick up payment, it‘s a scam.
"If you become suspicious of the call, reach out to your grandchild or family member to verify the claims or requests," police added.
"The Moose Jaw Police Service would like to remind the public not to provide personal information over the phone.
For additional scam prevention tips, visit the Moose Jaw Police Service Facebook and Instagram channels.
"If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a scam, get in touch with the Moose Jaw Police Service at 306-694-7600.
"If you prefer to remain anonymous, call the Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers with your information at 1-800-222-8477, go online at p3tips.com, or download the mobile app."
For more information on fraud attempts, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
