Twenty-five Canadians are facing charges in the U.S. in connection to a grandparent scam that defrauded American seniors of $21 million.
A release from the U.S. Attorneys’ Office Tuesday said that 24 people from Quebec, mostly from the Montreal area, and one person from Ontario, stole millions from elderly individuals in Vermont and more than 40 other states.
According to the unsealed indictment, between the summer of 2021 and June 4, 2024, the suspects engaged in the scam that involved calls where they falsely claimed to be an elderly victim’s relative — most often a grandchild — who had been arrested following a car crash and needed bail money. The calls were made from call centres in and around Montreal.
Authorities say others posed as lawyers representing the elderly victim’s relative and told them there was a gag order in place to prevent the senior from telling anyone about their family member’s supposed arrest.
The victims were then convinced to hand over the money to an individual who would visit their home falsely posing as a bail bondsman. Authorities say the funds were then transferred to Canada by cash delivery and financial transactions, including via cryptocurrency.
The indictment says the use of crypto obscured the source of the money and the identities of the suspects.
25 Canadians, mostly from Quebec, face U.S. charges over $21M grandparent scam
