Murray Wood: Kids and culture wars
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Mounties in the Battlefords are appealing to the public for help identifying a person of interest in a case involving the so-called “grandparent scam.”
The scam, which has become more common in Saskatchewan in recent years, involves a scammer contacting a victim – usually an elderly person – and claiming to be a family member in need of money for bail or other urgent expenses.
Read more:
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- Montreal woman charged in connection with ‘grandparent scam’ in Saskatoon
“The scammer can send someone to pick up payment in person,” the RCMP said in a statement.
“They may ask you to pay cash into a Crypto ATM, or online via e-transfer.”
On Tuesday, the RCMP shared surveillance images of a man “who may have information about the grandparent scams” currently being investigated by police in the area.
“Police are asking the public to help confirm the identity of the individual in the photo. They also would like to speak with anyone who may have seen them in North Battleford on April 20, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m.,” the RCMP said.
“The individual is described as a male with dark hair, and was wearing dark-coloured clothing, shoes and sunglasses on April 20.”
Police said one victim paid cash to a scammer in the Battlefords area last month, and the Mounties have seen “many” recent reports of scammers asking victims to take cash to a crypto ATM and send money using a special barcode. Scammers have also been using the names of legitimate lawyers in correspondence with victims, the RCMP added.
“White Butte Detachment also received two separate reports this week of residents in the Pilot Butte area targeted by the grandparent scam,” the RCMP said.
“In these cases, the scammer was attempting to arrange meeting up with victims in-person and thankfully this was reported to police.”
The RCMP noted that police, lawyers, judges and jails do not request money over the phone, and both bail and fines are paid at a courthouse.
Anyone who has been victimized by a scammer was encouraged to file a police report.
