A Windsor man will have to answer to allegations he defrauded a Chatham woman of more than $20,000.
In June 2023, Chatham-Kent police completed a fraud investigation on Grand Avenue West in Chatham. An elderly female had been defrauded in a Grandparent scam where a family member needed help.
On Monday, the Windsor Police Service arrested a 23-year-old man on the outstanding warrant from Chatham-Kent.
The police remind the public that if you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up and call a family member, neighbour or police and make someone aware of the situation.
Police say a typical call consists of the fraudster posting as a distraught grandchild, a police officer, or a lawyer. The fraudster will present an emergency requiring money to help resolve the issue.
Some stories Chatham-Kent police have received include a collision and a pregnant woman was struck; a collision and drugs were found in the car; arrested for impaired driving; a collision and the grandchild was driving while on their cell phone; broken down in another province; being detained in another province; etc.
Generally, they present some legal issue and bail money is required to get them out of jail. If money is not sent, then the situation will get worse in some way.
In some cases, police say the fraudster tells the victim their voice doesn’t sound the same because they currently have Covid.
In the case of the fraudster posing as a lawyer or officer, the grandchild cannot come to the phone for some reason.
To keep the victim from telling others, they claim a “gag order” is in place, and they cannot tell anyone about the situation. If the bank should ask questions, the fraudster provides excuses for the victim – buying a used car with cash, home renovations, etc.
Fraudsters use words and terminology such as “gag order,” “bailiff,” and “bail bondsman.” These terms are not used in the Canadian justice system, police say.
The idea that when someone is arrested, they require bail money to be released is also not common procedures in the Canadian legal system.
The fraudster will plan for someone to pick up the money. They make it sound legitimate by providing the victim with a password for the courier and incident numbers to write on the envelope with the money.
Fraudsters are persuasive and successful when they keep the victim in a highly emotional state.
