Wellington County OPP are urgently warning residents of Centre Wellington of an active fraud that’s already seen three people swindled out of thousands of dollars.
Constable Joshua Cunningham says the reports of fraud started this past weekend.
A person calls saying the victim’s grandson has been in a car accident involving a pregnant woman in Guelph or surrounding area and needs between four and seven thousand dollars to post bail. Cunningham says the victim is then instructed that a “bail bondsman” will be coming to their home to collect the money.
“The information provided to them is that there will be a bail bondsman showing up at their house with a password,” said Cunningham. “The bail bondsman will not park in the driveway which helps suppress the identity of that person picking it up because then we don’t have witness accounts of the vehicle.”
Canada does not have a bail insurance system and there is no such thing as bail bondsman in this country.
The suspect is described as a black man with average build and average height. His hair is in dreadlocks.
Cunningham urges anyone getting an emergency call from a relative take a minute to think
“You need to stop, you need to slow the conversation down,” said Cunningham. “A lot of wheels that perpetuate or make this scam work really well is the higher level of nervousness or a higher level of anxiousness. They feed of a person’s unknowing and worry and it compels them to act quickly.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Wellington County OPP at 1 888 310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip online.
