Skip Navigation

RFH 2010, Cover Stories

Police Warn of Phone Scam

Mon, Jul 18, 2011

Be sure you know who you are talking to when you get a phone call asking for money.

Hamilton Police are warning residents -- especially senior citizens -- to be careful when answering the phone.

Chief Rick Gifford says a local resident recently received a call from a person identifying themselves as the grandchild of the person answering the phone. There was some sort of trouble and the "grandchild" needed money quickly, and asked that it be sent via Western Union.

Gifford says the call was a scam.

It seems as though the person on the other end of the line is anxious and agitated and says their call is an emergency, hoping to rattle and confuse the person answering the phone into sending the money.

Gifford says the calls have been traced to a number in Canada for a comapny that appears not to exist. The investigation continues.

The chief urges people receiving such a call to be to be wary of the request, and to be sure that the caller properly identifies themselves.

Please login to post your comments.