In Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are cautioning the public about ongoing text and phone scams targeting parents. These scams involve fraudsters posing as children or relatives in distress, requesting urgent financial assistance.
According to Cpl. Gavin Moore, the P.E.I. RCMP’s media relations officer, the scams are an evolution of the traditional “grandparent scam,” where individuals pretend to be grandchildren in trouble to solicit money. In this new trend, parents receive text messages from unknown numbers, claiming to be their child in need of immediate funds due to a lost or damaged phone. The scammers often request e-transfers or other forms of payment and exploit the urgency of the situation to prevent verification.
Highlighting the increasing sophistication of scammers, the RCMP emphasized that perpetrators may manipulate caller ID information and use details from social media to make their messages appear authentic. The release warned Islanders of the potential financial risk posed by these scams, with victims being asked to send substantial sums of money.
Despite several reported incidents on the Island, Moore indicated that the actual number of occurrences might be higher, as not all victims come forward to report. He stressed that feelings of shame and embarrassment should not deter individuals from seeking help from law enforcement, as reporting such fraudulent activities is crucial.
To combat these scams, the RCMP provided precautionary measures for Islanders, including verifying money requests directly through trusted sources, exercising caution with urgent financial appeals, and consulting with trusted individuals before making significant payments. They also advised against solely relying on text messages or caller ID for identity verification and recommended verifying suspicious requests before taking action.
Individuals who suspect they have fallen victim to fraud are urged to contact local law enforcement promptly and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for further assistance.