The Kawartha Lakes Police Service is issuing a warning to members of the public to be wary of the grandparent scam.

The grandparent scam involves fraudsters attempting to scam older adults by pretending to be their grandchild or someone known to them in distress.

The grandchild scam usually includes the suspect(s) posing as a grandchild or relative who calls the older adult from a distant location. They then advise of some trouble they are in that requires money, for example, stating they were involved in a collision or were arrested by police. The caller then asks for money to be sent via courier, wire transfer or gift cards to assist them.

To protect yourself and others from this scam, consider the following:

• Don’t get flustered. Take time to think. The scammer will make it sound urgent to pressure you.
• Do not confirm any personal or financial information.
• Verify who is calling (offer to call back using the phone number you have for that person).
• Call someone you trust or police for an opinion about the call (scammers will say they don’t want anyone to know because they are embarrassed).
• Do not send any money.

If you believe you have been a victim of a similar scam, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or contact Kawartha Lakes Police Service 705.324.5252.