How One Quick Call Saved a Retiree from a Costly "Grandparent Scam"
By Magdalen Stiff
Director of Communications
It was a Friday afternoon when Lina Ellsen, a retired School Board Trustee, received a panicked phone call. There was no caller ID, but the man's voice, strained with emotion, was familiar to her and he said he was calling from a police station.
Believing the caller was a relative, Ellsen called him by name. “Luke, is that you?" she initially asked. “Yes, it's me!” In a frantic voice, Luke, her “nephew,” explained that he was pulled over by the police. When drugs were found in the car his friend was driving, he was suspected of drug possession. He said that the accusations were false as he had no knowledge of the drugs. He needed her help. He said that he was so ashamed and knew that he could trust her and pleaded that she not say anything to his family.
The situation escalated when an officer joined the call. He introduced himself as officer Bruce Evans with the RCMP. The officer said that he believed her nephew’s innocence and to avoid a weekend stint in jail, all Ellsen had to do was pay the bail. It was $9000 cash and it had to be delivered to a courthouse the same day. She was told that it would be returned to her on Tuesday after the charges were dismissed.
Ellsen's husband was about to head to the bank when she stopped him. Something in her gut told her to call the officer back. An authoritative voice said, "RCMP" which made sense. It was when the officer called her nephew Lucas, rather than Luca, his Italian name, that she paused. Doubt started to take hold. The story wasn’t adding up.
She did not have Luke’s cell number, but through various connections, she managed to retrieve it. She tried it and to her relief, he answered. He said he was at home with his mother and was certainly not in jail. The whole story she had been fed was a lie.
Moments later, Ellsen's landline rang again, and the alleged fraudster made one final plea for her help: "Hello, this is Luke!" "Oh, really?" Ellsen replied, "Which Luke? I know lots of Lukes!" The caller hung up.
“I'm not a naive person. I know when things don't seem right,” said Ellsen. “I advocate for older adults and often help my friends when they are taken advantage of financially. Despite that, it was all so convincing.”
Last year, nearly $10 million was lost to what is commonly referred to as grandparent scams in Canada. Grandparent scams, also called emergency scams, are common ploys that target older adults, preying on their emotions. These scams usually involve a phone call from someone who pretends to be your grandchild or, in Ellsen's case, a close relative.
Ellsen said that this experience has taught her a valuable lesson and she knows what she would have done differently if she received a similar call.
November is Financial Literacy Month. Use these tips to avoid being a target of fraud or scams.
Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how urgent the story sounds.
Ask specific questions only the real person would know. Avoid sharing personal information.
Independently verify the story by contacting your family member directly using a known number.
Be aware of what family members share online, as scammers can use that information.
Set up a family code word for identity verification in emergencies.
If you're a victim of a grandparent scam, you should report it to:
Your local police department – They can guide you on the next steps and may start an investigation.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC): Call 1-888-495-8501 or report the scam online through their website. The CAFC tracks and monitors scams and can help prevent others from falling victim.
Additionally, you may want to inform your bank if financial information was shared, as they can help secure your accounts.
*To protect the privacy of those involved, the victims' names have been changed.