MONTREAL — At 10 o’clock Tuesday morning in the West End of Montreal, the RCMP broke up an alleged network of fraudsters targeting American seniors.
Officers arrested 11 men and women on the second floor of a commercial building on Place de la Savane Street.
Police said the suspects arrested were using the so-called “grandparent scam” to rip-off elderly people of thousands of dollars.
The operation was led the RCMP’s anti-fraud unit known as COLT.
“In some of the cases, the victims give away their life savings,” said Sgt. David Pham from the RCMP.
READ MORE: Montreal man charged in ‘grandparent’ scam that cost Albertans thousands
In a typical scenario, operators who use the grandparent scheme impersonate a relative on the phone and claim they are in need of fast cash due to an emergency.
They somehow manage to convince vulnerable seniors to wire them money through wire-transfer services like Moneygram and Western Union.
“In the past, we have seen boiler rooms bring in $70,000 to $100,000 a week,” said Cpl. Alain Benjamin from the RCMP.
“It’s an illegal but lucrative business.”
Investigators are not providing details on the identities of the suspects arrested except to say the alleged ringleader was “known by police.”
Police said the grandparent scamhas become a favourite of Montreal con-artists.
“Telemarketing scams are 100 per cent of our work, the grandparent scam is probably half of this,” added Cpl. Benjamin.
WATCH: West Island man arrested in connection with scam targeting seniors in Alberta
Police are asking Montrealers to be alert and to report any suspicious activity.
Tuesday’s bust was thanks to a just one tip from the public.
March is Fraud Prevention Month across Canada.
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