POLICE are calling attention to the "grandparents scam" for the fourth time this year after a North Vancouver senior fell victim to the ruse.
The North Vancouver woman received a call Sept. 24 from a male claiming to be her grandson, who allegedly claimed to be in a tight spot and asked she send three payments of $900 to an Ottawa location via Western Union.
The woman sent the first payment before discovering it was a scam.
This is the fourth advisory issued by North Shore police forces in the past 12 months. In West Vancouver, an astute neighbour prevented a senior from sending money to such a scam in May, while a police officer intervened in April after a senior told him she was going to send $4,000 to her "grandson."
Police advise not to wire money to someone who calls unexpectedly, even claiming to be a family member, and to always call another relative to confirm the story and ask the caller questions only a family member would know the answer to.
