Regina police, RCMP warn of 'grandparent scams,' with over $40K reported lost

Regina police and the RCMP are warning the public about a spike in what are commonly called "grandparent scams," after six victims in southern Saskatchewan reported losing more than $40,000 in recent weeks.

Both the Regina Police Service and White Butte RCMP say they’ve received multiple reports of callers claiming a loved one of the victim is in crisis — often saying that person has been arrested or is in legal trouble — and demanding immediate cash.

"The phone is then turned over to somebody that pretends to be either a police officer or a lawyer," Regina Police Service Sgt. David Krieger said during a Friday news conference.

"The victim is ultimately told that there’s a gag order, they can't talk about this with anybody, and a courier is sent to the house to pick up some money from the victims."

Police say five people in Regina and one in the White Butte area have come forward so far.

As part of a provincewide investigation, Regina police arrested a 50-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, both from Quebec.

Both were charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of fraud under $5,000 and two counts of attempted fraud over $5,000. The man also faces a charge of failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking.

Both appeared in Regina provincial court on Wednesday.

Investigators say about $20,000 of the stolen money was recovered as part of their investigation.

Regina police and RCMP believe there are more victims who haven’t yet come forward.

The investigation remains active and interprovincial, as similar scams have been reported across Canada, police said.

A growing trend

Krieger says scams like this are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

"I’ll be honest, I think that it’s going to continue to happen," he said.

"Fraud is one of the biggest increasing crime trends that we’ve seen in policing. I know this will happen again.… My hope is that anytime that they come here, there's going to be a chance that we’re able to capture people."

In a joint Friday news release with Regina police, RCMP said seniors are often targeted, but anyone could be caught off-guard in a stressful moment.

The scams often involve high-pressure tactics and emotional manipulation, the release said.

Police recommend people educate themselves and speak with your loved ones about fraud awareness.

The Friday news release offered other tips for preventing fraud:

• Trust your instincts — if something feels off, it may be a scam.

• If you get a suspicious call, hang up and call your family directly, using a number you already know.

• Never hand over cash or personal information without confirming details first.

• Be wary of requests for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.

• Speak to your bank in person before making any large withdrawal.

Police encouraged anyone who believes they may be a victim to contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or RCMP at 310-RCMP.