St. Jerôme, Que. man sentenced to 3 years in connection with grandparent fraud scheme

Across the country, police and fraud-prevention experts of are warning Canadians to be vigilant as reports of "grandparent scams" targeting seniors are on the rise. (Pexels)

Montreal police (SPVM) are urging residents to be alert to grandparent scams, after a 33-year-old man from St. Jerôme was sentenced to 36 months in prison after a fraud conviction.

The SPVM’s economic crimes squad investigated the man’s involvement as a mule in around a dozen frauds between Aug. 29 and Sept. 29 in the Montreal area where he defrauded victims of around $60,000.

He was arrested in October and was sentenced last week.

“The scheme involved first phoning the victims, all elderly,” the SPVM said in a news release. “The caller pretended to be a grandson or nephew. He explained that he was in prison and needed money quickly to pay his bail. An accomplice (mule) would then turn up at the victim’s address to collect the money or bank cards.”

The investigation is continuing into the scheme and police may make further arrests.

In Canada, March is fraud prevention month.

The SPVM’s economic crime squad advises residents to use the following tips to avoid being defrauded:

• If someone calls you and asks if you recognize them, be vigilant. Don’t answer and ask for identification instead.
• Ask personal questions to which only the person they claim to be knows the answer. For example, place of birth, a family memento, etc.
• Ask for the person’s telephone number so you can call them back, or tell them to call you back later so you can check. If in doubt, hang up.
• Take the time to verify the information the person has given you by calling a family member, caregiver, or your police department, even if you’ve been begged not to.
• Never transfer or hand over money, even if you’re urged to do so and told it’s urgent.
• Remember that no one can force you to give money. You always have the right to say no, even to someone close to you.

Those who believe they have been the victim of a crime are asked to call 911 or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.