Windsor Grandmother Victimized by Telephone Fraudster

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The Windsor Police Financial Crimes Unit is investigating after yet another complaint from an elderly woman who was victimized by the “Grandma Scam”.

On Thursday police were called to a residence in the 700 block of Grand Marais Road East by a 76-year-old woman who told police that she had been victimized by a fraudster. The woman reported to police that she had received a telephone call earlier in the day from a man identifying himself as the woman’s grandson, but did not use his name. The man told the woman that he had been in a car accident, that he was in jail and needed her to wire cash to repair the car in order for him to be released from jail.

The woman, believing she was speaking with her grandson attended her financial institution, withdrew $2800 and wired it to a name provided to her by the man. The transaction was done through the Western Union office.

Several hours later, the same man telephoned the woman again asking for an additional quantity of cash as the cost of the repairs had exceeded the original estimate. The woman attended her financial institution again but on this occasion, an employee advised her against sending any more money to which she agreed. The woman then called Western Union in an attempt to cancel the original transaction however, she was advised that an unknown person had already obtained the funds.

The police did confirm that the victim’s grandson did not make the request for funds.