A vast police operation headed by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) targeting a cross-border grandparent scam took place Wednesday and led to the arrest of 10 people in connection with the fraud scheme linked to organized crime.
More than 50 officers from various forces, including the Montreal, Laval and Richelieu—St-Laurent police forces took part.
SQ Sgt. Catherine Bernard says officers are still looking for another three suspects.
Authorities say 13 people are to be arrested by day’s end in Montreal, Laval, Saint-Laurent, Kirkland and Chambly.
Provincial police said the criminal organization specialized in “grandparent”-type fraud and mainly targeted victims located in the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also involved in the investigation, as well as several other American police forces and surveillance agencies.
“Grandparent” scams often target older adults, with fraudsters claiming to be family members in need of assistance.
The scam usually has suspects posing as a grandchild, an attorney or a law enforcement official. They often create false scenarios, such as arrests or medical emergencies, asking for large sums of money in cash to be handed over to help bail out the fake family member.
There has been a “significant increase” in the phenomenon in the country, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
With files from The Canadian Press and Alessia Maratta, Global News.