Halifax Regional Police seek men suspected of scamming seniors

A suspect sought by Halifax Regional Police in connection with scams targeting seniors is pictured. (Source: Halifax Regional Police)

Halifax Regional Police (HRP) is asking for the public’s help in identifying two men they believe are responsible for scams targeting seniors in the region. Police allege the men are suspects in multiple fraud cases in the Halifax area.

Police said their Financial Crime Unit is still receiving reports related to a scam that defrauds seniors of their money.

In each incident, a scammer allegedly called the victim pretending to be a family member in jail and in need of bail money. A second scammer, who claimed to be a legal system representative, joined the calls and informed the victim that they need to pay for their family member’s release.

The suspects allegedly made arrangements to meet in public or collect the bail money at the victims’ homes, but in recent incidents, they asked their victims to forward or courier their cash to an address, said the police in a news release.

Police said law enforcement and court officials in Canada do not collect bail money from private residences.

HRP is advising anyone who receives a phone call like this not to disclose any personal or financial information and to hang up the phone. Police said scammers can clone numbers to appear as if calls originate from a trusted source. They said personal or financial information should never be disclosed when solicited from unknown sources by phone, email or any other platform.

One suspect is described as a man between the ages of 30 and 40. He has short black hair that appears to be shaved, or a very short fade on the sides and back of his head. He was wearing all black clothing, a black medical mask, and glasses. The suspect might be travelling in a white SUV-type vehicle.

The second suspect is described as a man around the age of 50. He was wearing beige pants and a black jacket with a hood. The suspect is bald or has a shaved head.

Anyone with information about the suspects’ identities or whereabouts is urged to contact Halifax Regional Police at 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page