Media Release
(GREY BRUCE, ON) – The Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is seeing an increase in the number of calls for service regarding the “grandparent scam.”
What is an emergency / grandparent scam?
Emergency scams, including variations called “grandparent scams”, use urgency and the manipulation of emotions to extort money from victims. In these scams, fraudsters cold call seniors, on phones, claiming to be a grandchild, family member, law enforcement officer or lawyer calling on behalf of their loved one. They’ll say that the person’s loved one was involved in an emergency situation, such as a collision, charged by law enforcement, legal peril, being sick or injured, etc. They demand the senior provide payment immediately for supposed bail, legal fees, fines or other amounts “owed” to stop the family member from going to jail or to get them released from custody. This is a scam.
The fraudsters isolate the victims by informing them that there is a court-imposed gag order, and they’re forbidden from discussing the matter. The victims are directed to attend their financial institution to withdraw the requested amount in cash. The fraudsters will then send someone to pick it up from the victim’s home or have the victim send the money via courier services. There have also been reports of victims paying with cryptocurrency.
How to protect yourself?
-Don’t give out your personal information (name, address, DOB, SIN, banking credentials).
-If you know a senior or have an elderly family member, please reach out to them and have a conversation on what to do if they get a phone call like this and consider coming up with a code word.
-Don’t accept friend requests from people you do not know.
-Don’t invest your money in platforms provided by people you don’t know.
-Be careful who you share images with. Suspects will often use explicit pictures to extort victims into sending more money.
-Protect your online accounts.
-Never send money to someone you haven’t met.
-Don’t respond to text messages from phone numbers you do not recognize.
-Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself.
If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur
LARGE DRUG SEIZURE MADE FOLLOWING SEARCH WARRANTS
(GREY BRUCE, ON) – A multi-agency drug investigation has resulted in several arrests and a large seizure of suspected controlled substances and offence related property.
In 2022, members from the Grey Bruce Community Street Crimes Unit (CSCU), and the Owen Sound Police Service began a drug investigation surrounding drug trafficking in the City of Owen Sound, and throughout Grey Bruce.
On March 16, 2023, members from the Grey Bruce CSCU, Huron-Perth CSCU, Owen Sound Police Service, West Region Regional Support Team (RST), West Region Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the West Region Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) executed several warrants across Grey Bruce County.
The Grey Bruce OPP have charged a 52-year-old from South Bruce Peninsula with the following offences:
·Possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking
·Failure to comply with undertaking
The accused was held pending a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound
The Grey Bruce OPP have also charged a 49-year-old from Owen Sound with the following offences:
·Possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking
·Possess unmarked cigarettes
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound at a later date.
The Owen Sound Police Service have also arrested and charged three other individuals in relation to this investigation.
As a result of the search warrants, the following suspected controlled substances and offence related property was seized:
·697 grams of suspected controlled substances totaling approximately $69,785
·$14,629 of offence related currency. A second large quantity of offence related currency was also seized and is still being processed
·Multiple pills believed to be controlled substances
·Approximately $6,440 worth of contraband cigarettes
Other offence related property consistent with drug trafficking
“ Yet again we see a successful multi agency investigation that has taken a large quantity of controlled substances off of our streets. These substances pose a threat to the safety of community members across Grey Bruce, and we will continue to investigate them accordingly. A seizure of this quantity could not be possible without the investigative excellence displayed by both our members from the OPP, and the members at the Owen Sound Police Service. – Inspector Paul Richardson, Detachment Commander of the Grey Bruce OPP
