These frauds and scams just keep going around and around.

At a recent presentation by Aaron Miller, the local Community Safety Officer of the local OPP Detachment, he described how much money local people from right here in Prince Edward County have lost to the scammers. In 2022, our residents—many of them seniors—lost over $644,000 to various scams.

And in Constable Miller’s presentation he said only 5 per cent of these frauds are reported to police.

This just keeps happening. Scammers call seniors and impersonate their grandkids. They say there’s an urgent need for money and press the grandparents to provide the money to save the day. In some cases they put the “gandkid” on the phone and when the dust settles people say “it sounded just like them”. I’m a grandparent and I know it would be easy to be taken by these professionals. The fraudsters know just what to say and how to say it to make you think it’s real, even if your inner voice is saying something is wrong. Our local OPP run an ongoing awareness campaign because this scam is still happening to grandparents.

And it’s happening right here. Detachment Commander John Hatch says “we have a “FRAUD” problem here in Prince Edward County!”

When he makes a presentation on this topic, PC Miller says that the fraudsters will coach the victim on what to say when they go to the bank to get the money. The bank staff are trained to ask questions. Be thankful that they do ask those questions. If you’ve been coached on what to say, right then is when you should stop.

If you’re feeling embarrassed you fell victim to this (or any) fraud then try to remember the fraudsters are professionals. This is all they do and they do it well.

The police suggest if you receive such a call you really need to let the police know about it even if you don’t lose money. You can report to the OPP by calling the nonemergency number at 1-888-310-1122.

Further information can also be obtained from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm or by calling the CAFC toll free at 1-888-495-8501.

Please remember this column if you get that call. Clip this column and put it by your phone. “Pump the brakes.” Stop and think. Ask the caller questions only your grandkid would know the answer to. Always, always be suspicious of phone calls requesting money. Be leery if they say it’s urgent. That’s a red flag. Ask for credentials. Listen to the bank staff if you go in to get cash.

Stay safe out there.

-Debbie MacDonald Moynes