A coordinated effort by vigilant family members and the Ottawa Police Service successfully prevented an elderly resident from being defrauded of nearly $6,000 in a sophisticated "grandparent scam" this week, authorities reported.
Family Alert Triggers Police Response
The incident unfolded on Tuesday afternoon when a concerned relative contacted police at approximately 1:20 p.m. The caller suspected his grandfather was being targeted by fraudsters. The senior had received a call from a man posing as a lawyer, who falsely claimed the victim's grandson had been in a car accident and urgently needed $6,000 for bail.
Believing the story, the senior went to his bank to withdraw the cash. Family members grew more alarmed when they could not reach him, as he had left his cellphone at home. Ottawa Police patrol officers swiftly located and intercepted the senior before any money could change hands.
The Elaborate Scam Unravels
After returning home, the senior was instructed by the scammer, who identified himself as "Charles Golden," to call back once he had the money. The fraudster called multiple times, referencing the man's grandson by name to add credibility.
The caller insisted on secrecy, fabricated a story about a pregnant woman being involved in the collision, and falsely promised that the bail money would be refunded by the courts within 48 hours. The scheme escalated when a man claiming to be a "court-appointed trustee" arrived at the senior's residence to collect the cash.
The suspect fled upon seeing police officers but was arrested after a brief foot chase. In a news release issued Wednesday, police announced that a 35-year-old man from Terrebonne, Quebec, has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000.
Police Warn Public, Seek Other Victims
"These scams occur far too often and exploit people's emotions and their desire to help loved ones," police stated in the release. They believe more individuals in the Ottawa area were targeted on the same day and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Authorities provided critical reminders to help the public, especially seniors, avoid such scams:
- Never trust caller ID, as it can be easily "spoofed" to appear legitimate.
- Establish a "family safe word"—a unique phrase only relatives would know—to verify a caller's identity.
- Know that police or courts will never demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or courier pickup. Any such request is a scam.
- Do not share personal information over the phone.
- Slow down. Scammers rely on creating a panic with phrases like "Don't tell anyone." Take a moment to pause and verify the story.
- If you have sent money or information, act quickly: contact your financial institution, report it to police, and consider filing a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Ottawa Police ask anyone with information related to this fraud campaign to contact their police reporting unit at 613-236-1222, extension 7300, or report online at ottawapolice.ca/report.
