{"id":18172,"date":"2025-02-26T01:04:21","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T01:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/more-than-36000-lost-to-scammers-in-the-central-okanagan-since-january-okanagan\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T01:04:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T01:04:21","slug":"more-than-36000-lost-to-scammers-in-the-central-okanagan-since-january-okanagan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/more-than-36000-lost-to-scammers-in-the-central-okanagan-since-january-okanagan\/","title":{"rendered":"More than $36,000 lost to scammers in the Central Okanagan since January – Okanagan"},"content":{"rendered":"


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At the seniors activity centre in Kelowna<\/a>, B.C., news of a spike in scams<\/a> targeting seniors is worrisome.<\/p>\n

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\u201cVery concerning that people are being taken advantage of, seniors in particular,\u201d said Kelowna senior Sue Ulmer. \u201cJust important to get the word out to people to be very cautious about it and double check before they do anything foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Kelowna RCMP, there have been at least 14 scams involving seniors since January, possibly more that went unreported.<\/p>\n

In total, the cases have resulted in more than $36,000 lost to the scam artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to get this message out that it is happening in Kelowna and the Central Okanagan,\u201d said Cpl. Mike Gauthier.\u00a0 \u201cPlease be very mindful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gauthier said the vast majority of the recent incidents in the Central Okanagan involve the so-called \u2018Grandparent Scam\u2019.<\/p>\n

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It involves the scammer calling the victim and impersonating a grandchild or another family member who is in some type of trouble and in need of immediate financial help.<\/p>\n

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According to police, the scammers are very persistent and in some cases even arrange for the money to be picked up in person.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn some cases they are identified as a courier.\u00a0 We have had some where they have said they are an undercover police officer collecting the cash or a lawyer,\u201d Gauthier said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they are attending in person, whether that be at the residence or at a set location but being in person itself is very unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gauthier added that the other scam currently making the rounds is computer-based.<\/p>\n

\u201cScammers are emailing individuals and asking to click a link in order to repair their computers,\u201d Gauthier said. \u201cAfter they click that link, they now have access to their computers.\u00a0 They have been hacked and they demand money in order not to share their information publicly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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