Edmonton police charge man in connection to ‘grandparent scam’
Posted September 19, 2022 4:32 pm.
A 30-year-old man has been charged in an ongoing scam targetting seniors in Edmonton and surrounding areas.
Edmonton police in coordination with the Calgary Police Service and RCMP have been investigating the “grandparent scam” since early March.
The scam targets seniors, as a person phones them and pretends to be their grandchild. During the call, the scammer usually tells the senior that their grandchild is in police custody and is in need of money.
The senior is then told to withdraw money from the bank and that a person will show up at their residence to collect it.
“These incidents are occurring all across Canada,” states EPS Detective Pierre Lemire. “There have been over 36 complainants in the Edmonton area since March of 2022 and there are new complainants being identified every week.”
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Calgary police Staff-Sgt. Kurt Jacobs adding, “They are able to use personal information obtained from a number of methods to make their lies seem real. It takes all of us to protect our seniors and loved ones. Have conversations with your family members, watch out for seniors making strange transactions either at financial institutes or through gift cards and report any suspicious behaviour.”
Lucas Kopijewski has been charged with six counts of fraud over $5,000 in relation to six separate incidents.
Kopijewski is the second person charged in September in Alberta, as police in Calgary charged a 21-year-old.
Police in Winnipeg have also charged people in connection to the scam.
Police want to remind people that bail payments can only be paid in person at the courthouse or at correctional centres. Receipts are also issued.
Anyone with information about similar incidents is asked to call police at 780-423-4567 or leave a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
– With files from Alejandro Melgar
