Senior tricked into sending $3.5K in ‘bail money’ scam, Vancouver police warn
A "bail money" scam that saw a Vancouver senior send thousands of dollars to someone posing as her grandson this week has prompted a warning from police.
In a tweet Thursday, the Vancouver Police Department said the 87-year-old was tricked into sending $3,500 by courier to an individual pretending to be her grandson and claiming to be in jail.
"We managed to intercept the package before it arrived, but many others haven't been so lucky," the tweet reads.
According to the VPD, 56 victims lost more than $700,000 combined in Vancouver last year alone — after scammers convinced them to hand over cash for a loved one's bail money.
In an email to CTV News, the VPD said the senior involved in this week's bail money scam lives alone downtown.
"She was contacted Tuesday by a person claiming to be her grandson, who lives with cerebral palsy and needs regular medication," said Sgt. Steve Addison. "The supposed grandson convinced the woman that he had been arrested in Quebec for drug possession, and needed $8,500 to get out of jail."
Later that day, the VPD said the woman received a call from someone claiming to be a police officer, who convinced her to courier the cash to an address near Montreal.
"Fearing her grandson would go without his medication, the senior withdrew $3,500 — her daily limit — and sent it by courier to Quebec," said Addison.
It wasn't until her grandson coincidentally called her to catch up shortly afterwards that she realized she had been scammed.
"The courier intercepted the package and sent it back to Vancouver so our officers could return the money to the senior," said Addison.
Police said the incident remains under investigation and no arrests have been made at this time.
"If someone claiming to be police or a family member phones asking for bail money, it's a scam. Call police immediately," the VPD added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca