A scam targeting grandparents and parents is making the rounds, Prince George RCMP is warning.
Mounties say the detachment has received several reports of households receiving calls from a fraud artist claiming to be a grandson, son or nephew, and who is in cells at the Prince George RCMP detachment after being arrested following a motor vehicle incident.
The call is then transferred to someone stating they are a lawyer, that the relative needs between $5,000 and $10,000 to be let out and that a bail bondsman will be by the house to collect the money.
“We are putting out an urgent news release, warning residents about this apparently local version of the grandparent scam. We are asking people to check on their older loved ones and neighbours and have a discussion with them, warning them that this is a scam and helping them to know what to do if they get a call like this,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper.
If you receive a call similar to this one, before you head to the bank and take out the money, police suggest you call a second person to ask their opinion on whether or not this could be true, or call that relative directly to make sure they are OK.
Be sure to report scam phone calls like this to the Prince George RCMP’s non-emergency line at 250- 561-3300 as well as to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) or by calling 1-888-495-8501
