People in Kingston and beyond should be aware of a telephone scam that targets older members of the population
Kingston Police officials say they’ve noted an increase in “grandparent” or “emergency” scams, where individuals receiving phone calls from someone stating they work for the “Canada Post Investigations Department” and the “Canada Intelligence Service” who is asking for money.
Police remind the public that cash is never requested for bail. Never send money by courier; and never send money to someone you do not know and trust.
Kingston Police offers the following tips and guidelines to prevent this type of fraud;
Verify the caller’s identity by asking questions that someone else is unlikely to be able to answer, for example the name of the family’s first pet.
Tell the caller you will call them right back, then call your grandchild’s usual phone number to verify the story.
If your grandchild can’t be reached, contact a family member or friend to check out the story. Remember, scammers will plead with you to keep the emergency a secret, so you won’t confirm the story.
If you speak to someone who claims to be a police officer, call the relevant law enforcement agency to verify the person’s identity and any information they’ve given you.
Don’t trust caller ID or answer calls from unknown numbers. If you recognize the caller ID but the call seems suspicious, hang up the phone.
Don’t give out your personal information unless you are certain the person and reason are legitimate.
Don’t send cash, wire money, or provide numbers from gift cards. Scammers might pressure you to use those methods since they are generally more difficult to trace.
Be cautious about what you are sharing on social media. Consider only connecting with people you know and check your privacy settings for all your social media and online accounts.
Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails. Be cautious even with an email that looks familiar; it could be fake. Instead, delete the email if it looks unfamiliar and block the sender.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to Kingston Police by calling 613-549-4660 or by submitting an online report located on our website and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s (CAFC) online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.
If not a victim, report it to the CAFC anyway.
(BROCK ORMOND)
