PIERREFONDS — An apartment building in Pierrefonds was the scene of a dramatic police operation last week.
Just before dawn on February 10, about a dozen RCMP officers stormed into a unit on the first floor and arrested 28-year-old Yann Giasson.
They were executing an arrest warrant for police in Calgary.
The West Island resident was then transferred to Alberta where he was formally charged in court in connection with a large-scale financial fraud; a scheme which specifically targeted seniors.
READ MORE: Montreal man charged in grandparent scam that cost Albertans thousands
“When he’d make the phone call, he’d say ‘this is your grandson, I need your help,'” said Const. Tony Hogendrop from Calgary Police.
Investigators call it the “grandparent scam”.
They say Giasson allegedly called elderly Albertans, impersonated a relative who was in trouble and in need of fast cash. Police claim he convinced 10 seniors to send him money through wire transfer services like Moneygram and Western Union.
The RCMP said they’d been watching Giasson for more than a year.
“From a year-long looking at this, and seeing the devastating effect it had on families, it’s hard to look at,” said Hogendorp.
Giasson is facing 20 criminal charges: 10 counts each of fraud and theft.
He appeared in a Calgary courtroom last Tuesday and was ordered by a judge to remain behind bars.
Investigators in Alberta said Giasson obtained more than $30,000 in his alleged scam, but they hinted he could be linked to several other similar cases.
Giasson returns to court next Tuesday.
Comments