Grandparent Scam: Toronto man charged after duping people across Canada

In combating the grandparent scam, Peel Regional Police charged a Toronto man involved in duping elderly individuals.

 

The Fraud Bureau has brought charges against Charles Junior Cleveland King, a 39-year-old from Toronto, in connection with a grandparent scam that has been affecting Canadians across the country. 

 

This scam, which preys on the trust and love of grandparents for their family members, has seen victims lose thousands of dollars to fraudsters masquerading as their kin.

 

The scam came to light in June 2023 when a victim received a text message from an unknown number claiming to be a family member in distress. The message stated that the supposed family member's phone was damaged, and they were using a friend's phone. The conversation quickly escalated to a plea for financial help to settle an unpaid bill, with the victim being directed to transfer funds to an email address provided by the suspect.

 

Unsuspectingly, the victim transferred a substantial amount of money, believing they were aiding a family member. It was only after contacting the legitimate family member that the victim realized they had fallen prey to a scam.

 

The investigation further uncovered a second victim in British Columbia, indicating the widespread nature of this fraudulent scheme. On March 13, 2024, King was arrested and charged with two counts of Fraud Under $5000 and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. He is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on April 15, 2024, to face these charges.

 

Peel Regional Police suspect that there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. They are urging anyone affected by this scam to report the incident to their local police.

 

In light of International Fraud Prevention Month, Peel Regional Police are using this opportunity to raise awareness about ongoing scams, particularly targeting the elderly and vulnerable. They advise the public to always verify the identity of family members requesting financial assistance through unexpected text messages before taking any action.