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25 Canadians Charged in $21M 'Grandparent Scam' Targeting Elderly Americans

The alleged cross-border scheme used fear tactics and advanced technology to defraud seniors in 46 U.S. states over three years.

FILE - The Department of Justice seal is seen during a news conference at the DOJ office in Washington, May 16, 2023.
In Canton, Ohio, Det. Danielle Paciorek explains the warning signs of fraud at a lunch-and-learn session for seniors sponsored by the Perry Police Department at the Canton McKinley Fraternal Order of Eagles in September 2024.
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Overview

  • U.S. authorities have charged 25 Canadian nationals with wire fraud in connection to a 'grandparent scam' that defrauded elderly Americans of over $21 million between 2021 and 2024.
  • The operation, based in Montreal-area call centers, allegedly involved impersonating relatives in distress and coercing victims into providing bail money under false pretenses.
  • Scammers used voice-over-internet technology to mask their phone numbers, cryptocurrency to launder funds, and ride-hailing services to collect money from victims’ homes.
  • Twenty-three suspects were arrested in Canada, while two remain at large; five defendants face additional charges of money laundering and could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
  • Law enforcement from the U.S. and Canada, including the RCMP and Sûreté du Québec, collaborated to dismantle the network, which targeted victims in 46 states.