THUNDER BAY — City police are warning of a recent scam which has involved a fake courier showing up to people's doorsteps, purportedly to collect emergency money for a family member.
In a Wednesday afternoon news release, the Thunder Bay Police Service said it is warning the public of grandparent scams targeting local residents, with some of the cases involve scammers operating within the city.
Police said the scam involves fraudsters targeting would-be victims claiming to be their grandchild or a representative, saying they've been arrested and need money to post bail. The fraudsters are often able to create a sense of urgency or panic, and if asked why they don't sound like the family member, may say they have an injury like a broken nose, he added.
In some recently reported cases, a fake courier believed to be connected to the scams has been sent to the victim's home to collect emergency money for the family member.
Police said scams involving in-person contact are rare, but can cause extra concern for the victim's safety. Anyone who believes they are face-to-face with a scammer is urged to get to a safe place and call 911.
The best way to avoid being the victim of a phone scam is to hang up, police said. Police also said if people are contacted and believe what they're being told may be true, they should try to directly contact the family member to verify the claims.
Fraudsters will frequently claim the money is needed immediately, which police said is a common tactic to prevent would-be victims from doing their due diligence and can be seen as a way to suspect that a scam is taking place.
