Dryden Police are warning local residents of the return of the “Grandparent or Emergency Scam”.
The scam is where a grandparent receives an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild or family relative.
The caller will say it’s an emergency and ask you for money.
Police say they have received numerous complaints in the last couple of weeks.
Police say these scammers obtain your information from marketing lists, social networking sites, and telephone listings.
Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself:
-If you get a telephone call from someone claiming to know you and asking for help, check to confirm that it is legitimate before you send any money.
-Ask questions that would be hard for a stranger to answer.
-DO NOT send money unless you are certain it’s the real person you know.
-If you’ve shared banking information with the scammers, contact your financial institution to place alerts on your account.
-If you have received a fraudulent phone call/email/communication, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 to file a report for statistical purposes.
