2 Ontario women charged in Winnipeg grandparent scams that swindled 9 seniors out of $100K

Two Ontario women are facing a slew of chargesafter more than a dozen cases of what are commonly called "grandparent scams" were reported in Winnipeg, with roughly $100,000 in losses.

Winnipeg policewarned residents in late July to be aware of an increase in such scams, wherea fraudstercalls an older person and claimsto be a grandchild or other relative in serious legal trouble and in immediate need of money.

In the six days prior to that July 28 warning, police said there were 15 reports of the scams in the city.

On July 29,two women were arrested at a home on Sommerville Avenue, off Pembina Highway north of McGillivray Boulevard, Winnipeg police said in a Friday news release.

Police executed a search warrant at the homeand found evidence linking the women an 18-year-old from Toronto's North York region and a 25-year-old fromWalpoleIsland in southwestern Ontario to the offences, according to the news release.

Sgt. Trevor Thompson, who is with the police service'sfinancial crimes unit, saidhe can't say what that evidence is, because it's part of an ongoing investigation.

Victims urged to come forward

Thompson said inthe days after the arrests,the unit became aware of five more reports of the scam.

Police now allege that over a 10-day period, the womendefrauded nine seniors of approximately $100,000.

"There were a number of instances where the fraud was attempted and for whatever reason, not followedthrough on, or the victims became aware of it and were able to avoid it from happening," Thompson said.

The two women, who police saydidn't previously know the seniors they are accused of scamming,have beencharged with numerous counts of fraud over $5,000, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, andpossession of the proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

The 18-year-old was also charged with forgery and using a forged document.

Police will work to return the money to the seniors who were defrauded, Thompson said, but that will take time. Police are askinganyone who believes they have been scammed to come forward, he said.

"We would really urge anybody that believes they've been victimized in something like this or any other type of fraud to make a report to their local police agency. We can't do anything if we don't know about it."

Warning signs

Police sayit's important to know several things toprevent this type of fraudfrom happening.

One is that police and the courts never send someone to a person's house to collect money, and would never tell anyone to lie to their bank about why they'rewithdrawing money both hallmarks of grandparent scams.

The scammers will typically pressure people to act quickly before they have time to consider what they're agreeing to. It's important to talk to a trusted person before providing anypersonal information or money, especially if it is an unsolicited call, police say.

They also urgepeople to speak with their older relatives aboutthe scamto protect them.