CCI Manitoba Chapter News

Fraud awareness - grandparent scam

The Winnipeg Free Press Community review posted an article titled Learn to recognize the ‘grandparent scam’ on March 12. Since many grandparents live in condos and many condo owners are grandparents, it seems like a good article to pass on to our members.

"Although parts of the scam have evolved, the basic framework remains. An older adult receives a phone call that a grandchild, child, niece or nephew is in a bind and needs money urgently"

To protect yourself, recognize the common aspects of the scam

"Stress response – The scammers will try and make the situation dire, with severe consequences for your loved ones. This fear can cause even the most educated people to do things they normally wouldn’t.

Time – The scammers instill a false sense of urgency and pressure you to make fast decisions. The victims think they don’t have the opportunity to verify information.

Payment method – The scammers aren’t going to ask for a cheque or bank draft. They ask for funds that can be moved quickly and are hard to trace. Most common are cash, cryptocurrency or gift cards".

Take a few minutes to read the article in its entirety — here is a link https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2025/03/12/learn-to-recognize-the-grandparent-scam.

March is fraud awareness month. Don't become a victim — be informed.