NEWS RELEASE GUELPH POLICE SERVICE
Two Montreal males were arrested in Guelph Thursday following an attempted grandparent scam.
A Guelph resident received a call Thursday afternoon from someone he believed was his granddaughter. The caller advised she had been arrested and handed the phone to a male, who claimed to be a police officer and told the victim he required $18,000 cash to have the granddaughter released from custody.
The Guelph resident agreed to pay the funds and made arrangements for someone to pick up the cash from his residence later in the day. He subsequently spoke to his real granddaughter and realized the earlier call was a scam.
Members of the Guelph Police Service Fraud, General Investigations and Intelligence units took over the investigation and officers were waiting when a suspect arrived to collect the cash. He was taken into custody. A vehicle was seen nearby and observed to make a quick U-turn following the arrest. The vehicle was stopped and the driver arrested.
Two Montreal males, aged 22 and 23, were arrested for fraud over $5,000. Both will appear in a Guelph court March 28, 2023.
