Provincial police in Muskoka are asking residents to beware of a current scam that cost two seniors thousands of dollars. Police released a photo of a woman with dark hair wearing dark clothing who they say posed as a bailiff seeking money for one woman’s grandson to be released from jail. Police say the senior handed over $5,000 in cash to the suspect. Another senior lost $6,000 in cash after a caller pretended to be her grandson in need. Police say the scammer called a taxi to pick up the elderly woman and bring her to the bank to withdraw the money. According to police, both cases happened on Wednesday in Huntsville. Police urge residents to be mindful of these types of frauds, and to talk with senior family members about suspicious calls or visits from strangers. Tips to Prevent Fraud Police say any call that requires immediate action should be a red flag. “Hang up and contact the family member directly,” OPP says. The authorities say if the person on the call can’t provide a normal jail location or makes mistakes when answering questions, to hang up and call your local police service. "Call the non-emergency number of the police service to verify the story or confirm the name and badge number of the officer calling," OPP added. Police urge residents to tell the truth about why you’re withdrawing large sums of cash when at the bank because bank tellers are very familiar with scams and can help prevent financial losses. Additionally, police say courts won’t ask for cash to bail someone out of custody because people must be present in court. Plus they say to “never send cash, cryptocurrencies or any other funds to an unknown persons, unverified addresses or bank accounts.” Finally, police recommend taking the time to verify information. Ask the caller personal questions or press them for further details. “Scammers are counting on you wanting to quickly help your loved one in an emergency.”
