(MIDDLESEX CENTRE, ON) - On October 11, 2018, members of the Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a fraud complaint in Middlesex Centre.
The victims reported receiving a call from a fraudster who identified as their grandchild. The victims, convinced that the caller was their grandchild, transferred $9,100 to help cover the costs of a motor vehicle collision.
The victims contacted their grandchild two days later to follow up on the collision details and realized they had been defrauded.
If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a family member or a friend desperate for money:
Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.
Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine.
Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you've been told to keep it a secret.
Source: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0204-family-emergency-scams
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or submit a tip online at www.londoncrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.