Police say a new scam has arisen, where callers claiming to be family members ask for help, stating they have been arrested.
Niagara Regional Police are warning the public about the new "grandparent scam."
The scam usually involves a phone call from someone claiming to be a family member, often a child or grandchild, stating they have been arrested.
The caller may then hand the phone over to another person pretending to be a police officer or gift cards to bail them out of jail.
The scammer may even pretend to cry, making it difficult to recognize their voice.
If you receive a call like this, the scammer may already know the family member's name and what they call you.
Anyone who gets such a call is urged to hang up without passing on any personal details and call the family member in question.
The NRP also says bail hearings are done in court, not over the phone.
You can report calls like this by emailing the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at info@antifraudcentre.ca.
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