Suspect involved in grandparent scam arrested

An arrest has been made in connection with grandparent scam activity that had been reported in Thunder Bay.

The Thunder Bay Police Service Economic Crime Unit commenced an investigation after receiving several reports of local residents who had received phone calls from apparent scammers.

The investigation found that a male suspect was present in the city and involved in collecting funds from potential victims.

A suspect was arrested with assistance from the Break, Enter and Armed Robbery (BEAR) Unit after being recognized by an off-duty officer.

A 56-year-old male from Quebec is charged with Fraud Over $5,000, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000, and Personating a Peace Officer.

The accused was remanded into custody following an initial court appearance.

The Economic Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate. Anyone who believes they have also been victimized by this scam, or has information that can assist the ongoing investigation, is asked to contact (807) 684-1200 or use the Thunder Bay Police Service online reporting system.

The grandparent scam involves phone calls to potential victims claiming that a family member was involved in an accident or had been arrested, with money being urgently needed to assist with their situation. The fraudster may claim to be a lawyer, police officer, or have some other role with the court system. The scammers may also use spoofing to have call display appear to show a legitimate phone number.

These calls typically target elderly residents or other vulnerable individuals.

If you are concerned about potential scams and want to learn more, please visit our Fraud Prevention page https://www.thunderbaypolice.ca/safety/fraud-prevention) or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/)