Police arrest two people in ‘grandparent scam’
FERGUS – Police have arrested two people in connection with a “grandparent scam” targeting a resident here.
Wellington County OPP officials say they received a call about “an active fraud” at a Fergus home on March 2 at about 1pm.
“It was reported that an unknown individual was in a home attempting to collect money that the potential victim believed to was to pay a bond/bail for their grandson,” police stated in a press release.
Police say officers took two people into custody and “investigation revealed that the potential victim’s grandson did not require a bond/bail.”
Efeson Tesfaalem Teklehaymanot, 20, and a 17-year-old, both residents of Guelph, have been charged with fraud over $5,000.
They are to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
The OPP is asking anyone with information about this incident or “who has been contacted in a similar manner” to call police at 1-888-310-1122.
To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip at www.csgw.tips. Tip providers may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.
Several Wellington County residents have been defrauded of thousands of dollars in grandparent scams over the last few months.
All incidents of fraud or attempted fraud should be reported to police or Crime Stoppers.