Montreal woman charged in connection with ‘grandparent scam’ in Saskatoon

A woman from Montreal is facing fraud charges in connection with the so-called “grandparent scam.”

The scam sees fraudsters contact victims, who are usually seniors, with a made-up story about a family member who is in trouble.

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“Whatever the scenario is, the fraudsters will always ask for money to resolve the issue,” Saskatoon police explained in a statement.

“The victim is typically pressured and rushed into the transaction, with the false threat of a family member in danger.”

According to police, three residents in Saskatoon fell victim to the scam between March 17 and March 20.

“In all three cases, a woman attended to the victim’s homes and collected the money,” the police service said.

Last Thursday, police in Saskatoon were notified about similar reports about the scam in Moose Jaw, which led to the arrest of the 44-year-old woman.

She’s now facing three charges of fraud over $5,000 in connection with the Saskatoon scams.

Saskatoon man charged in ticket scam

Meanwhile, a Saskatoon man is also facing fraud charges.

The Saskatoon Police Service said officers within its Economic Crime Section started an investigation last fall into a scam involving professional sports events.

“Three Saskatoon victims reported purchasing tickets for sporting events and travel that never materialized from the seller,” police explained in a statement.

“Investigators identified the fraudster and found that, despite accepting the victim’s money, nothing was ever booked or arranged for them.”

The victims’ losses added up to $30,000, police said.

On Tuesday, a 54-year-old Saskatoon man was arrested in connection with the ticket scam. He’s facing two charges of fraud over $5,000, and one charge of fraud under $5,000.