Grandson Scam is the name this time around. The RCMP have shut down a ‘grandson scam’ in west-end Montreal, which operated out of money transfer outlets

RCMP officers yesterday raided 16 Western Union and MoneyGram outlets that were allegedly involved in an international telemarketing scam that touched hundreds of seniors in Canada and the United States.

The fraudster poses as the grandson of the victim and pretends to be in financial trouble in a foreign country. The caller then asks the “grandparent” to send a money transfer, promising to pay the money back upon returning home. Victims were allegedly bilked out of a total of $3.5 million.

1,000 people filed complaints with the RCMP and about 80 per cent had given money as requested. The RCMP warns people against transfering money without knowing for sure who it is going to.

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