Ridge Meadows RCMP is warning Pitt Meadows residents to be vigilant when answering the phone after a wave of scam phone calls hit the city.
According to the RCMP, there have been numerous complaints submitted in the past 10 days regarding what is often referred to as a grandparent or emergency scam.
These common scams involve a person receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be a relative or friend in need of money, oftentimes to help get out of jail or cover the cost of a bad car accident.
With this scam on the rise in Pitt Meadows, Insp. Martin Guay of the Ridge Meadows RCMP is warning people to help protect themselves against becoming victims of these types of calls.
"The RCMP does not engage in, endorse or conduct mail or telephone solicitation on behalf of your relative or loved one for the release of someone for money," said Guay. "Do not send money before doing your own investigation."
These requests for money are often made with a strong sense of urgency in order to avoid giving the victim time to analyze what's been asked of them.
However, locals can fight back against this by following a few tips from the police:
• Slow things down, hang up and reach out to the relative with a number you know and trust.
• Ask for the name of who is speaking rather than offer it.
• Do not be afraid to make calls of your own. Verify identities or whereabouts of the caller with other family members. Even if they say not to.
• Do not be afraid to say ‘no’ to the caller. You don’t need to send money immediately.
• Never give your personal, banking or credit card information to anyone who calls you over the phone, never send cash/gift cards in the mail and never buy someone cryptocurrency under these circumstances.
• Never agree to meet with someone who called you asking for money.
Anyone who has received one of these calls or already fallen victim to them should immediately call their local police department as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
