Saskatoon Police are again receiving numerous reports from members of the public about fraudulent calls otherwise known as Grandparent Scams.

During these scams fraudsters contact the victims by telephone and claim to be a grandchild in an emergency as a result of a traffic collision or drug possession. Payment is then demanded in cash or cryptocurrency for bail and legal fees.

It's important to be aware that any legitimate authority would never demand payment as cash or cryptocurrency over the phone.

The fraudsters instruct the victims to lie to their financial institution to withdraw funds. They may also falsely state that a non-dissemination order (gag order) is in place preventing discussing the matter with anyone else.

If you are the recipient of a suspicious phone call, ask important questions of the caller to verify their identity but refrain from offering additional details yourself. Alternatively, hang up and call that family member directly to verify their location and well-being and/or connect with other relatives to fact check the call. If the caller is claiming to be law enforcement or a representative of another profession, hang up and call that authority directly to verify the information. Fraudsters leverage urgency and panic to coerce the victim into complying with their requests and demands. Always use extreme caution, especially when being asked to send any form of currency.

Police are encouraging families and friend groups that consist of older and/or vulnerable adults to openly discuss the Family/Grandparent Emergency Scam to prevent continued victimization in the community. If you or a loved one have received a suspicious call and suspect fraud but have not been victimized, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If you have become the victim of fraud, contact your local police or report it to the Saskatoon Police Service by calling 306-975-8300; in an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.