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Victim of grandson scam loses $4,700 to con artistBy David Leaand is hoping by speaking openly about whattion they need.Union.OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFhappened other people can avoid the same fate.Through the obituary, the fraudster canThe problem with Western Union or aThey knew his name and it just sounded solearn who is widowed and alone and also themoneygram is that it doesnt go to a location,Halton police are once again asking seniorsmuch like him that I couldnt do anythingnames of grandchildren.he said.to be wary of fraudsters masquerading as rela-else, she said.Because obituaries now stay online indefi-I can Western Union money to 123 Maintives in distress after an Oakville woman wasI had heard about this on television and Initely the fraudster can call years after the vic-St., in Sudbury, but if I give you the transitscammed out of nearly $5,000 Tuesday.said, Ill never fall for that, and didnt I fall fortim has been widowed.number you can pick up that money anywhereThe woman, who requested not to be iden-it?Taylor also said on other occasions the sen-in Canada. All you need is the transit number.tified, said she received a phone call from some-The con artist has since called the womanior gives information away without even realiz-Taylor advises seniors who get these kindsone pretending to be her grandson Corey. Theagain, still pretending to be her grandson. Thising it.of calls to get the callers number and then callcaller said he needed money to bail him out oftime, he said, the person he got into the acci-The first thing out of their mouth is, Hisomeone else in their family or the personjail.dent with is suing him for $20,000, but the per-grandma, its your favourite grandson, andthemselves to verify the situation is genuine.He said, Im in St. Jerome, Quc, I gotson will settle for $5,000 if its provided rightthen the senior says something like, Is thatThey make it seem like there is a rush, butinto a little accident and I had two pints ofaway. you Michael, said Taylor.if the person is in custody somewhere theresbeer, and then hes going on and on and hes soThis time the woman contacted the police.Theyre very smooth, theyre very polishedno rush, said Taylor.sorry he has to ask me for it, she said.Im afraid he might know where I liveabout what they do, unfortunately.You have the time to do what you need toI said, How much do you need? and henow, she said.Investigating these cases can be very chal-do to confirm this. You can even call your localsaid, $4,700. And I said, Honey, Ill get it forIm a senior, Im a widow. Its scary, it real-lenging, Taylor said, because they often involvepolice because if someone is in custody inyou. Youll do anything to help your grand-ly is.multiple jurisdictions.another jurisdiction, through our own meanskids.Sergeant Duncan Taylor, of the HaltonTaylor said it was no accident the fraudsterwell be able to find out if this has really hap-The voice on the other end of the phoneRegional Police Service Regional Fraud Unitasked the money be sent through Westernpened.then had the woman mail the money viasaid this kind of scam is common.Western Union to a person, he said was hisIt is something we are well aware of and weUNDER NEWlawyer.continue to try and make the public aware ofMANAGEMENTIt was not long after she mailed the moneythis, he said. Weve done that through differ-that the woman realized shed been had.ent press releases, through our senior liaisonThe man pretending to be her grandson hadofficers who we send to the different seniorsAuthentic Indian CuisineBring in Coupontold her he did not have access to any otherresidences where they try to make sure the sen-and Get%phone besides the one he was using, so theiors as well as their families are aware of these10% off yourmeal.woman did not call her grandsons cell phonetypes of scams.10offExpires Apr. 30, 2011until after the money was sent.Taylor said people need to understand thatWhen she made that call, her real grandsonjust because the person calling is using thetold her hed been home the whole time.name of a relative doesnt mean anything. ConGroup of Fourreceive one LunchThe woman is amazed she fell for this scamartists will check obituaries to get the informa-BuffetFREEFREEwith coupon.Expires Apr. 30, 2011LUNCH BUFFET t BNCJBODFPB DPNDine InDelivery 3PZBM 8JOETPS %S .JTTJTTBVHBTake OutCatering he RegionalWinterSaleMunicipality of HaltonTOwww.halton.ca20%OFFIncludingJOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HALTON REGION!Custom60%OrdersPUBLIC ROUNDTABLE MEETING ON HALTONS STRATEGIC WORKPLANOn Saturday, January 29 add your voice to an important conversation about Halton Region. Storewide ClearanceMeet members of the Halton Region Citizens Reference Panel, learn about the Region, and share what matters most to your community. his is an e citing time and we want to hear ManyItems Drastically Reducedfrom you! 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