RCMP warn ’emergency’ scam is back after Kelowna resident gets taken

The RCMP is asking people be aware the so-called grandparent or emergency scam is once again making the rounds after a Kelowna resident was convinced their son was involved in a car crash and needed cash.

In September, the resident answered a fraudulent telephone call from Quebec from someone who claimed to be a lawyer, according to an RCMP media release.

While on the phone, a man could be heard crying in the background as the lawyer said the resident's son had been in a car crash and they had to send bail money to the lawyer on their son’s behalf to get him out of police custody.

The victim deposited a large sum of cash into a bank account provided by the lawyer.

Following the deposit, the lawyer requested money for damages caused to a photo radar device during the collision and the resident obliged.

By this time the victim was growing increasingly concerned for her son, RCMP said, and later that day spoke with him and confirmed that he was safe.

The investigation into the fraud remains ongoing.

"This was an unfortunate situation of scammers using an emotional plea to take advantage of a parent’s concern for their child and exploit it to their advantage," Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Const. Solana Paré said in the release.

"The Kelowna RCMP has since received further reports from citizens who received calls of similar nature who took the precautionary measure to call and confirm the call was a scam."

The RCMP is advising residents to end a conversation if you have doubts, confirm with a family member if you receive a call from someone claiming that a relative is in trouble and never send cash, gift cards or money transfers as payment to an unknown recipient.

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