Kelowna fraudster claiming to be a lawyer targets grandparents

Police are investigating two cases where a fraudster scammed money out of elderly people by saying their grandkid was in legal trouble in Kelowna.

Both victims received a phone call from someone who said they were their grandchild’s lawyer, according to a press release from Kelowna RCMP.

The scammer, claiming to be a lawyer, told the victims about a fake criminal case involving their grandchild and said that $5,000 would be able to get them released from custody.

In both cases a man showed up at the victim’s home to collect the money. He went to two residences, one in the 600-block of San Michelle Road and the other in the 1300-block of KLO Road, on Oct. 1.

The suspect has been described as a man with light skin, dark slicked back hair and long sideburns. He is around 6’ tall, smelled strongly of cologne and was carrying an iPad.

Anyone with information about this case has been asked to contact Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference the file numbers 2025-59571 and/or 2025-59576.

Police are advising people to have regular conversations about fraud trends to help warn their loved ones about scams, especially online scams.

Fraud can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online here.