Grandparent scams
Across the country, fraudsters are calling seniors and pretending to be a grandchild in trouble. It may sound urgent and emotional — but it’s a scam designed to pressure victims into handing over money quickly.
How a grandparent scam works
These are common tactics used to create urgency and fear. These scams can continue over days, weeks or even months as criminals build trust and manipulate their victims.
- A caller pretends to be a grandchild who’s been arrested or hurt
- The caller may claim it’s due to impaired driving, a car crash or another emergency
- A second person may get on the phone, posing as a police officer, lawyer or government official
- The victim is told to keep the situation secret and act fast
- The victim is instructed to withdraw cash and hand it to a courier
Protecting yourself and your loved ones
If you get a suspicious call, follow these steps:
Pause
Verify the story before taking any action
Call your grandchild or family member
Call them directly using a trusted number
Ask personal questions
Ask questions only your loved one would know
Request details
Request details and independently confirm anyone claiming to be an official
Take a moment
Take some time to think. Does this situation make sense, or could it be a scam?
The impact
Grandparent scams cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, losses in Ontario alone topped $5.4 million in 2022.
Experts believe many cases go unreported, with only five to 10 per cent of victims coming forward.
Nicky's story
Using the pseudonym ‘Nicky’, an 81-year-old Newmarket resident has shared how he and his wife lost close to $100,000 in a grandparent scam that took place between March and May 2022.
In March 2022, Nicky’s wife received a phone call from a person she believed to be her grandson. He claimed that he had been arrested while he was a passenger in his friend’s car, which unbeknownst to him, contained illegal drugs and a gun. A second person, claiming to be an RCMP officer, soon gained the trust of the couple and over the course of two months, persuaded them to make four separate payments to assist their grandson.
To learn more about Nicky's story and learn how you can safeguard yourself and your loved ones, watch the video below.
