Police donB次元官网网址檛 typically field a lot of scam phone calls, but this week operators at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment received multiple calls from people asking if their grandchildren were being held in the detachmentB次元官网网址檚 cells.

The calls were spurred by a wave of grandson scam attempts in Nanaimo and other Island communities.

B次元官网网址淲e had 20 calls yesterday,B次元官网网址� said reserve Const. Gary OB次元官网网址橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson. B次元官网网址淭hose who got conned lost between $3,000 and $8,000.B次元官网网址�

The grandson scam involves criminals calling a potential victim, pretending to be their grandson and claiming to be in trouble with the law, often in a foreign country. They say they need several thousand dollars to cover bail and legal defence costs, and another scammer pretending to be a defence lawyer or assistant then comes on the line to instruct the victim on how much money is needed and how to transfer the funds.

This time, OB次元官网网址橞rien said, the scammers were claiming to be in jail in Nanaimo.

Voices in the calls impersonated grandsons, granddaughters, police and even the Embassy of Canada to the Dominican Republic.

B次元官网网址淚t actually was friend of mine who called in. HeB次元官网网址檚 quite an astute guy, too. He said [he was 95 per cent sure] it was a fraud, but they used AI to [mimic] his nieceB次元官网网址檚 voice B次元官网网址� He said it sounded just like his niece,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橞rien said. B次元官网网址淪he was B次元官网网址榓rrested and in jailB次元官网网址� in the Dominican Republic and they had an B次元官网网址榦fficial with Canadian consulB次元官网网址� call in.B次元官网网址�

Other scam stories involved someone who was in jail after being involved in a vehicle accident involving a pregnant woman, and someone who said they were taken into custody because they were a passenger in car in which drugs were seized.

B次元官网网址淭he other ones were impersonating a police officer B次元官网网址� They also had legal assistants on, so it went from the grandson to the lawyer to the legal assistant who provided the detail on the [money] wire and the 10-digit transaction number,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橞rien said. B次元官网网址淲e had one woman call in from a local chartered bank and the bank refused to give the money out. They said you have to call the RCMP and it took about 20 minutes to convince her that it was actually a fraud.B次元官网网址�

OB次元官网网址橞rien said ages of the victims who fell for the scam varied from their 50s to 80s and for those who lost money, thereB次元官网网址檚 little the RCMP can do to help them other than create a file about the theft.

B次元官网网址淭he moneyB次元官网网址檚 been wired out and unless they go immediately to their chartered bank with the file number, thereB次元官网网址檚 not much the bank can do,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橞rien said. B次元官网网址淥ften the bank will try to assist them.B次元官网网址�

To learn more about online fraud and telephone scams, how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or what steps fraud victims should take, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at . Victims can also report frauds by calling 1-888-495-8501. Fraud victims should also contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.

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