Phone scammers target seniors in North Bay, demand ‘bail’ money for loved ones
Police in North Bay are warning the public about a telephone scam targeting older persons in which callers pose as police and demand payment for bail money to release a loved one from custody.
“The North Bay Police Service has received multiple reports of scam calls primarily targeting elderly individuals,” police said in a news release Tuesday.
“During the calls, the scammers claim that they are police and demand payment in cash for bail funds to release a loved one from custody. During the calls, the scammers will even let the victim speak with an individual claiming to be a lawyer who will reinforce the scammer’s demands.”
The victims are then told to withdraw a large amount of money, “but not to discuss the reason for the withdrawal with anyone, threatening the victim with criminal charges should they do so,” police said.
“At this time, the North Bay Police Service has not received any reports of individuals paying the scammers.”
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be police who asks you to withdraw money, contact North Bay police at 705-497-5555 and press ‘9’ to speak with an officer.
To learn more about how to protect yourself from a scam, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.