Muhammad Aamir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter
Halton Police have made an arrest related to a “grandparent scam” being operated in the region.
The grandparent scam is a type of fraud that has been an ongoing trend across Halton resulting in many community members being victimized.
Such scams typically involve the victim receiving an unsolicited phone call regarding a loved one being in distress.
The perpetrators falsely identify themselves as a loved one, or impersonate a police officer and/or other participants of the criminal justice system (such a lawyers, bailiffs, and “bondsman”), falsely claiming that the loved one is in police custody as a result of a specific incident.
They then request a larger sum of money to have the supposed loved one released from custody, or to pay for associated bills/fines accrued as a result of the alleged incident.
Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) officers were recently made aware of a scam in progress taking place in Georgetown. Police attended the residence and arrested Kevin Tshiyoyi, 27, of Montreal.
The suspect attended this location in order to collect $10, 000 cash from a victim for the alleged and fabricated bail of her grandson. This is a theme often used by fraudsters throughout the GTA.
The suspect was placed under arrest by investigators and charged with Fraud Over $5000.
Following his arrest, and through additional investigative steps, police were able to identify a hotel room where the accused was staying.
A search warrant was executed at an Oakville hotel room where evidence related to additional fraud offenses in Halton and neighboring jurisdictions was located.
In total, investigators have charged Tshiyoyi with 11 counts of Fraud over $5000 and Unauthorized Possession of a Credit Card.
Total losses by victims in these occurrences is more than $80,000.
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