Police warn of ‘family emergency’ scam that targets seniors

The holiday season is a time for families to come together, but police are warning of scammers who take advantage of older people by claiming to be a relative.

According to Saskatoon police, scammers often call seniors and claim to be a relative in an emergency, asking for money to cover a hospital bill or bail.

“The fraudsters may also work in tandem and connect the victim to a second person claiming to be a police officer, lawyer, doctor, or other authority,” police said in a statement.

The scammers often ask for payment in cash through a mail courier, gift cards, or even cryptocurrency, police said.

“This is a scam! Any legitimate authority would never make such requests,” police emphasized.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call should try to verify the caller’s identity without providing personal details, police advised. Another option is to simply hang up and contact that family member directly to verify their well-being.

“If the caller is claiming to be law enforcement or hospital staff, hang up and call that authority directly to verify the information,” police said.

Fraudsters take advantage of the sense of panic and urgency that comes with their false claims, police said, but extreme caution should be used before sending anyone money.

Anyone who’s received such a request, or suspects fraud, was advised to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, police advised. Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud should report it to police.