Chilliwack residents warned of scams targeting seniors

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack RCMP are alerting the public to a resurgence of fraudulent schemes targeting seniors, commonly referred to as grandparent scams or emergency scams. In recent cases, scammers have posed as RCMP officers and preyed on the emotions of unsuspecting victims.

The scams prey on the vulnerable, often targeting elderly individuals. Victims are typically lured through a phone call where the scammer impersonates a concerned relative, claiming that a loved one or grandchild is in legal trouble. They then exert immense pressure on the victim, demanding a substantial sum of money, purportedly for bail.

In two recent cases reported in the Chilliwack area, the scammer posed as an RCMP officer, informing victims that their family member had been arrested and urgently needed bail money for their release. To make matters worse, in both instances, a person connected to the scam visited the victim’s residence to collect the money.

“This is a recurring scam and it is important for everyone to discuss these types of scams with their loved ones, especially seniors who are far too often the target of these types of frauds,” said Corporal Carmen Kiener, media spokesperson for the RCMP Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment.