RCMP are issuing a warning to be vigilant to all Manitobans after two senior citizens in the area of Portage la Prairie fell victim to a scammer.
According to an RCMP release, on October 30th, 2024, Portage la Prairie RCMP received two reports of senior citizens within the community being defrauded of money after receiving a call from an individual claiming to be a lawyer. One victim was from Portage, another from MacGregor, but both stated they’d heard from an unknown male caller who was claiming to be a lawyer for their grandchild.
In both cases, the scammer knew their grandchild’s name and said they were in jail and needed money for bail. Both victims agreed to pay the money. In their release, RCMP said the suspect came to the house of the senior in Portage to retrieve the money. The incident in Macgregor had the suspect meet the senior at a location on Hampton Street.
RCMP also advised there had been other scams of this nature popping up in Manitoba just days earlier. On October 29, they got reports of very similar calls in Minnedosa and Kleefeld. On October 24, they got a report of a similar scam in East St. Paul in which the victim actually drove with the suspect to the bank, where they withdrew and then handed over a large sum of money.
“These incidents are extremely concerning to the Manitoba RCMP,” said Cst. Larry Neufeld of the Portage La Prairie detachment. “The criminals are using information obtained through various means, such as social media, to deceive and steal significant amounts of money from senior citizens. The fact that they are showing up at homes and even driving with the victims speaks to their ever-increasing confidence in carrying-out these scams. These criminals play on the emotions of seniors and their willingness to help a family member in need. The RCMP would like to remind the public that they should never give money to unknown individuals and to immediately report crimes of this nature to their nearest RCMP detachment.”
The RCMP have shared tips from the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre on how to avoid what they call “grandparent scams”. They advise that if you get a call from a stranger claiming a family member is in an emergency situation you should hang up immediately and try to call the family member on the phone number you have for them.
The CAFC also recommends hanging up and calling your local police department directly if the caller claims to be a law enforcement official, and being suspicious of telephone calls that require you to immediately act and request money for a family member in distress. Furthermore, they pointed out the Canadian Criminal Justice System does not allow for someone to be bailed out of jail with cash or cryptocurrency.
RCMP encourages anyone with information to contact them. Anonymous tips can also be made through Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
Victims of cybercrime or fraud, can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
