An elderly South Surrey couple who fell victim to a 香蕉视频直播渃lever香蕉视频直播� fraud involving a con man who pretended to be their grandson, are warning other seniors to be on their guard.

Ocean Park residents Ester and Gordon Rice, who are in their 90s and 80s, respectively, received an unusual phone call on Jan. 11 from someone claiming to be a lawyer.

The person on the line told Gordon that his grandson was being held for bail because he was accused of causing a vehicle collision.

香蕉视频直播淭hey said there was a car in front of his car that was wobbling and he tried to pass it, get around it, and he managed to bang into the back end of it,香蕉视频直播� Gordon said, describing the phone call.

香蕉视频直播淗e was worried because when you rear-end somebody, it香蕉视频直播檚 almost always your fault. The guy that phoned me said we can determine this wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the case and we香蕉视频直播檒l have to put up some bail money first.香蕉视频直播�

SEE ALSO:

To seal the deal, the fraudster asked Gordon if he would like to speak to his grandson.

香蕉视频直播淎nd the young man who followed on the phone sounded exactly like our grandson, except that he was in a very upset and emotional mood,香蕉视频直播� Gordon said.

香蕉视频直播淚t was obviously not him, I found out later. Their story was so convincing that I thought it really was an authentic situation and this was really my grandson I was talking to in a very upset kind of mode.香蕉视频直播�

Gordon and Ester agreed to pay the 香蕉视频直播渂ail money,香蕉视频直播� which they were told would be reimbursed three to four days later. The fraudsters also told Gordon to not tell anyone about the incident because that would cause embarrassment for his grandson.

Because of apparent COVID-19 concerns, the fraudsters asked the couple to put $8,900 in an envelope and leave it on their front porch. Soon after, a man wearing a jacket and hoodie picked up the envelope and returned to a Surrey Metro Taxi cab before departing, Gordon said.

香蕉视频直播淢y grandson, who was supposed to be released later on that day, actually came in after work and he had no idea what was happening,香蕉视频直播� Gordon said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I realized we香蕉视频直播檇 been scammed. That香蕉视频直播檚 when we called the police.香蕉视频直播�

Shortly after the incident, Gordon and Ester made up a sign and posted it on their front lawn, warning neighbours of the scam.

香蕉视频直播淚f there香蕉视频直播檚 any way we can prevent these people from getting somebody else, it would be great,香蕉视频直播� he said.

One of their neighbours, Kim Ness, noticed the sign and contacted Peace Arch News.

Ness said it香蕉视频直播檚 important to alert the community about this scam because of how manipulative it was.

SEE ALSO:

Ness suggested banks also have a role to play to prevent these types of crimes. She noted that when someone tries to withdraw more than $10,000, they automatically have to fill out paperwork.

香蕉视频直播淪o I think (Ester) went to the bank and took out $9,000. But that bank teller, knowing Ester for as long as they have, they probably should have asked, you know, what are you doing with this cash?香蕉视频直播� Ness said.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 the other part of it that I think that香蕉视频直播檚 important is the education of the banks and the community to watch for these things.香蕉视频直播�

Surrey RCMP confirmed it has received a police report and is actively investigating the incident. Police have not yet made an arrest.

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
Like us on and follow us on