submitted to EFP
On Tuesday June 21, 2022, at approximately 2:34 p.m., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Tecumseh Detachment investigated a fraud after being called to a Town of Tecumseh address.
It was determined that a resident received a phone call, a male identified himself as a lawyer currently representing their grandson who was just arrested for impaired driving. This lawyer provided case file and confirmation number to make the call sound more legitimate.
The victim was advised that his grandson was going to be held in front of a judge if he could not make bail and he would require $9300 in cash today and his grandson would be released and driven home.
Since the original complaint of fraud was received, Essex County OPP is now investigating ten incidents across Essex County that are very similar in nature that investigators believe they are all connected.
All of these incidents have targeted seniors who have received phone calls advising them that a grandchild is in trouble and that a "representative" would attend their home to collect the money.
"The OPP is reminding all Essex County residents to be extremely vigilant and to be alert for unsolicited calls or visitors that arrive at your residence. If anyone should receive a call in this manner, please contact your immediate family and inquire if anyone needs assistance. Please do not forward any funds without speaking to family members first and report it to the police."- Inspector Angela Ferguson, Detachment Commander, Essex County OPP.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1 - 888 - 310 - 1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1 - 800 - 222 - 8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.catchcrooks.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.