$75K returned to Manitoba victims of 'grandparent scams'

Manitoba seniors who lost money to scammers last year have gotten some of it back, the province says.

In July 2022, two people from Ontario were arrested and accused of defrauding 14 Manitobans over a 10-day period, stealing about $145,000 through what is commonly called a "grandparent scam," the province said in a Thursday news release.

About $75,000 of that money was recovered and returned through the province's criminal property forfeiture fund — a program that seizes and liquidates crime-related property.

Melinda Murray, the executive director of the criminal property forfeiture branch, says she and a colleague returned a portion of the recovered money to each of the 14 scam victims in person.

This case is "the first time since our inception … that we've returned money in this type of scam or fraud," she said.

The so-called "grandparent scam" typically involves someone calling the victim and posing as a grandchild in legal trouble, saying they need cash in order to be released from police custody. 

The scammers often gather information on potential victims through obituaries and internet searches, the province said.

In the July cases, the victims had agreed to provide the cash to the scammers, and were told to write a specific file number on an envelope containing the money, according to the province.

Police were able to obtain video surveillance footage of the scammers in an illegally rented vehicle as they went to pick up those envelopes from a victim's home, according to the province.

They retrieved eight of those envelopes, amounting to $75,200. 

Shame, 'loss of trust' for victims

The people accused of perpetrating the scam were arrested and charged with fraud and theft, the province said. The province could not confirm whether or not they were ultimately convicted.

Murray said police refer certain cases to the criminal property forfeiture branch, which determines whether there is enough evidence to seek seizures of property, money or other assets in court.

Though not all 14 victims got all of the money they lost back, Murray says the scam victims were relieved to at least get some of it.

"It really affected them a lot more than just the pocketbook… There was a loss of trust. There's shame and embarrassment for these victims," she said in an interview.

"I think [they] either felt embarrassed or guilty that they were duped, and it's unfortunate," she said.

"We recognize that returning money to fraud or theft victims does not erase the trauma that they've gone through, but it certainly helps."

The scams "can happen to anyone," as the perpetrators can compel their victims by playing on their emotions, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said in Thursday's news release.

Police and courts will never send anyone to a person's house to collect money, he said.

Anyone wanting to learn more about the grandparent scam and how to report similar crimes can visit the Winnipeg Police Service's website.