Manitoba RCMP are currently investigating multiple incidents involving seniors being defrauded of money. These incidents are under investigation and RCMP are warning the public to be cautious.

Portage la Prairie RCMP recently 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.

Police say that one resident from Portage la Prairie, and one from MacGregor, both stated the unknown male caller was claiming to be a lawyer for their grandchild. In both cases, the suspect would provide the victim with the grandchild’s name, indicating that they were in jail and needed money for bail.

Both victims agreed to provide money to the suspect.

The incident in Portage la Prairie saw the suspect come to the house of the senior to retrieve the money. The incident in Macgregor had the suspect meet the senior at a location on Hampton Street.

Prior to these incidents, calls of a very similar nature were also reported to have occurred in Minnedosa and Kleefeld. In both cases, the victims gave the suspect a significant amount of money.

The RCMP detachment in East St. Paul was also made aware of a senior citizen within the community who received a similar grandparent scam call. In this instance, the victim was picked-up by the suspect and driven to the bank. The victim then withdrew a significant amount of money and gave it to the suspect believing her grandchild was in trouble.

It is unknown at this time if all cases are directly related.

“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.”

Grandparent Scamp – Tips from the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre

How to protect yourself:

  • If you receive a phone call claiming to be from a family member in an emergency situation, hang up the phone and contact them directly using a phone number you already have – not one provided by the suspected fraudster.
  • If the caller claims to be a law enforcement official, hang up and call your local police directly, using a phone number from a reputable source – not one provided by the suspected fraudster
  • Be suspicious of telephone calls that require you to immediately act and request money for a family member in distress
  • Listen to that inner voice that is screaming at you “This doesn’t sound right”
  • It is important to know the Canadian Criminal Justice System does not allow for someone to be bailed out of jail with cash or cryptocurrency
  • Be careful what you post online
  • Scammers can get details that you shared on social media platforms and dating sites to target you or get names and details about your loved ones
  • Don’t trust caller ID names and numbers.
  • Scammers use technology to disguise the actual number they are calling from and can make it appear as a trusted phone number, also known as spoofing

If anyone has any information about any crime, you are asked to contact your local RCMP detachment. Anonymous tips can also be made through Manitoba CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or by visiting manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Victims of Cybercrime or Fraud, can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.