Though victims were located across Canada, the majority of the targeted individuals live in Ontario, with an age range of 46 to 95 years old. All of the victims were provided supports and fraud prevention material. 

As a result of the investigation, 14 individuals were arrested and 56 charges were laid. 

Project Sharp is a JFO led by the OPP and involves support from the Sûreté Du Québec, Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, York Regional Police, Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Durham Regional Police Service, Ottawa Police Service, Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, Service de Police de Laval, and Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario. Additional assistance was provided by United States Homeland Security Investigations, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. 

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of the emergency grandparent scam or any fraud is urged to contact their local police, Hamilton Police at 905-546-4925 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) . 

You can also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. 

For resources on scams and fraud, visit https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

Hamilton Police Service will be holding information sessions in the month of June, Seniors Month.

Under this scam, the victim receives a call from a fraudster posing as a grandchild or other family member. The fraudster claims they have been arrested and need bail money or financial help in an emergency.

The fraudster will ask the victim not to call other family as they do not want anyone to find out.  Often, the fraudster will turn the phone over to another person, who will claim to be a lawyer or law enforcement official. The victim is then told to send money to a bank account or via courier to an address.

The Hamilton Police provides the following advice should you receive such a call:

•      Be suspicious of calls that demand money or immediate action.

•      No law enforcement agency will demand immediate payment of currency.

•      Never offer information to the caller.

•      If the fraudster asks a question like "Do you know who this is?”, simply say no and have them tell you.

•      Contact another family member to confirm the story.

•      Remember to never send money to someone under uncertain conditions.

•      Don't be afraid to say "No".

Hamilton Police will be offering information sessions to the community to help educate on these types of frauds and what to be aware of.  There will be victims bravely speaking of their experience in hopes to prevent this type of crime happening to them. If you have a loved one or someone who may be vulnerable to this type of fraud please have them attend or attend on their behalf and pass the information on to them.  Lets work together to help prevent this type of crime.

If you believe you have fallen victim to such a scam, please contact the Hamilton Police non-emergency line at 905-546-4925.

More Resources

Cyber Crime, Computer and Internet Safety – provides information regarding online frauds and crimes.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – provides more advice on scams and frauds and current types of frauds.

Competition Bureau's Information Centre – provides information regarding laws businesses must follow.

Office of Consumer Affairs – provides information about common scams that occur in your own province or territory.

On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, the victim, a 94-year-old man of Hamilton, began receiving phone calls from a male impersonating an RCMP police officer. The victim was told that his grandson was arrested for having a large quantity of drugs in his vehicle and was in police custody. The scammer then demanded the victim pay a $120,000 bond to release his grandson.

Another male, posing as the victim’s grandson, came on the phone franticly pleading with the victim to pay the bond, so that he could be released from police custody. Worried about his grandson, the victim agreed to pay a portion of the demanded bond money, as it was all he had at the time.

The monetary losses sustained were minimized by the financial institution that stepped in when the victim attempted to obtain money from their account.

Later that same day, a female playing the role of a court courier, attended the victim’s residence and collected the money. The victim was advised there was a court imposed ‘gag order’, and he was not permitted to notify anyone of what happened or his grandson would remain in prison.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, the victim received more phone calls from the suspects demanding the remainder of the bond money. The suspects directed the victim to place the money in an envelope at an undisclosed location. At this point, the victim became suspicious and notified the Hamilton Police Service

 Hamilton Police have arrested two males for the following charges:

Police are seeking at least one additional suspect, believed to be a female, for their involvement in this crime.

The public is reminded that it is not the practice of any police service to collect money for court purposes.

If you have any information that you believe could assist police with the investigation into this crime, you are asked to contact Detective Angela Abrams at 905-546-4603 or Staff Sergeant Oliver Mann 905-546-3841 of the Hamilton Police Financial Crimes Unit.  

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

The scam begins after the victim receives a call from a person posing as their grandchild or other family member who claims they have been arrested and need bail money or emergency financial help.

“Fraudsters” will ask the victim to keep the call private and not alert other family members about the fake situation. In some instances, the fraudster will even pass the phone to an accomplice pretending to be a lawyer or law enforcement official.

On Thursday, August 5, 2022, the Hamilton Police commenced investigations into four separate incidents of the defrauding of seniors in Hamilton. It is believed that the same suspect(s) are involved in these crimes due to the similarity in details.                                              

Police are reminding citizens to be cautious of suspicious phone calls. If you receive a call that one of your family members are in trouble and need bail money, please contact the police. Never provide personal information over the telephone, text or email. The police will never request payment by money, service business, iTunes/Google Pay, Credit gift cards or bitcoins.

If you have any information that you believe could assist Police with the investigation into these crimes, you are asked to contact Crimes Against Seniors Unit, Detective Sergeant Michelle Wiley by calling 905-540-6375.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com 

On Thursday, February 3, 2022, a 77-year-old female victim received a call from a male believed to be her son, informing her that he had been involved in an accident and been arrested by police. The suspect went on to tell the victim that her son would be released on bail for a large sum of cash.

Victim agreed to pay the cost to release her son and arrangements were made to pick up the cash at the victim’s residence.  

The suspect contacted the victim again, where she was told that additional money was required and arrangements were made for the accused to attend her residence on Monday, February 7, 2022.

Hamilton Police became aware of this scam and intervened when the accused attended the victim’s residence.

Police arrested a 19-year-old male from Quebec.

If you have any information that you believe could assist Police with the investigation into this crime you are asked to contact Detective Constable Phil Poirier of the Crimes Against Seniors Unit by calling 905-540-5300.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

The Hamilton Police Service provides the following advice should you receive such a call:

• Be suspicious of calls that demand money or immediate action.
• No law enforcement agency will demand immediate payment of currency.
• Never offer information to the caller.
• If the fraudster asks a question like "Do you know who this is?”, simply say no and have them tell you.
• Contact another family member to confirm the story.
• Remember to never send money to someone under uncertain conditions.
• Don't be afraid to say "No".

If you believe you have fallen victim to such a scam, please contact the Hamilton Police non-emergency line at 905-546-4925.

More Resources

Cyber Crime, Computer and Internet Safety – provides information regarding online frauds and crimes.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – provides more advice on scams and frauds and current types of frauds.

Competition Bureau's Information Centre – provides information regarding laws businesses must follow.

Office of Consumer Affairs – provides information about common scams that occur in your own province or territory.