'Grandparent scams' increasing in Quebec and across the country
Quebecers lost $732,000 from grandparent scams in 2022, ranking third in the country behind Ontario and Alberta.
With the phenomenon rising in Canada, the RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) will hold a fraud prevention campaign between Feb. 6 and 10 to raise awareness.
Last year, Canadians lost $530 million in frauds, an increase of almost 40 per cent from the $380 million stolen in 2021.
According to CAFC communications officer Jeff Horncastle, both the number of victims and the amounts stolen continue to grow.
In 2021, the CAFC processed complaints from 323 victims; a year later, 1,1000 people came forward to report scams.
The CAFC estimates that only five to 10 per cent of fraud victims report it, suggesting even more astronomical losses.
"Grandparent" scams alone are estimated to have stolen over $9.2 million in Canada, a significant increase from $2.4 million in 2021.
Over half of these losses (5.4 million) occurred in Ontario, followed by $1.1 million in Alberta. Next is Quebec, followed by British Columbia ($322,000) and Manitoba ($313,000).
In these scams, fraudsters pose as a family member, typically a grandchild, or as legal official or police offiver representing them. They claim that money is needed for some kind of emergency, such as bail.
To tackle the issue, the RCMP will share tips, newsletters and social media posts throughout the week to raise awareness of this type of fraud.
Police say anyone who knows a senior at risk of being targeted should talk to them about it and explain what to do if they receive such a call. The CAFC recommends establishing a code word to verify the authenticity of the individual on the line.
Any victim of fraud is advised to report the crime to their local police department and the centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online, even if no financial loss has been incurred.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 5, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.