Suspect in Grandparent Scams

The North Bay Police Service are seeking assistance from the public to identify a suspect involved in multiple grandparent scams.

The North Bay Police Service has received multiple reports of grandparent scams, in which scammers call elderly individuals claiming to need money to help the victim’s grandchild. The emergency can vary, but in many of these incidents the scammers claim the victim’s grandchild has been arrested and needs money for bail. The scammers may pose as the grandchild, a legal representative for the grandchild or as law enforcement officials. In three instances, victims were defrauded of several thousand dollars.

The suspect in these incidents matches the description of a suspect in a reported grandparent scam being investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police in Huntsville, Ontario. An image of the suspect, supplied by the OPP, is included with this media release.

On February 20, 2025, the suspect attended an apartment building in the 100-block of Hughes Road, North Bay, where a victim was defrauded of several thousand dollars.

On February 20, 2025, the suspect attended a residence in the 0-100-block of Farley Ave, North Bay, and defrauded a victim of several thousand dollars.

On February 21, 2025, the suspect attended a residence in the 200-block of Orange Crescent, North Bay, and defrauded a victim of several thousand dollars.

Anyone with information that can lead to the identification or location of the suspect, including security camera footage or dash camera footage from the areas where the incident occurred from the day of the incident, is asked to contact the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555 and press 5 to speak with an officer. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Near North Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nearnorthcrimestoppers.com

Protect Yourself & Your Loved Ones

Remember to follow these tips provided by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to help protect yourself against grandparent scams:

• If you receive a phone call claiming to be from a family member in an emergency situation, hang up the phone and contact them directly using a phone number you already have – not one provided by the suspected fraudster.
• If the caller claims to be a law enforcement official, hang up and call your local police directly, using a phone number from a reputable source – not one provided by the suspected fraudster
• Be suspicious of telephone calls that require you to immediately act and request money for a family member in distress
• Listen to that inner voice that is screaming at you "This doesn't sound right"
• It is important to know the Canadian Criminal Justice System does not allow for someone to be bailed out of jail with cash or cryptocurrency
• Be careful what you post online
  • Scammers can get details that you shared on social media platforms and dating sites to target you or get names and details about your loved ones
• Don't trust caller ID names and numbers.
  • Scammers use technology to disguise the actual number they are calling from and can make it appear as a trusted phone number, also known as spoofing