Police warn of phone scam impersonating loved ones

Police in Grand Falls-windsor are warning the public of a phone scam happening in the community.

In a Friday news release, Grand Falls-windsor RCMP said officers received reports of scammers calling from blocked or fake numbers claiming to be a family member or a loved one.

Police said the scammer will wait for the victim to take a guess at who they are, thus giving the name of a loved one to use against them.

The scammer will then beg for money for reasons such as illness, legal issues or owing money to criminals.

Police said the calls could happen in the middle of the night with the scammer acting in a panic, which causes the victim to act without thinking. This leaves older adults as more vulnerable to the scam, police said.

“If you receive a call from a loved one seeking money, please ensure that you contact them directly by calling them back or talking to them in person to ensure you are not being scammed,” the RCMP said.