VANCOUVER Police have released the photos and surveillance video of a suspect in a prolific seniors’ scam, and are asking anyone who recognizes him to call police.
“We are renewing warnings to seniors and their loved ones after additional victims have reported being scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars in recent weeks,” said Constable Tania Visintin on Friday. “These fraudsters continue to pull on the heart strings of seniors by using high-pressure tactics to convince elderly people that their loved ones have been arrested and need bail money get out of jail.”
In one recent incident, on January 30, an 81-year-old Vancouver man received a phone call from a man identifying himself as a police officer. The victim was told he needed to provide $12,000 in bail money because his grandson had been arrested on drug charges. Later that day, a suspect came to the victim’s door, collected the cash, and was caught on camera.
“The photo and home surveillance footage we’ve released today is of someone we believe posed as a courier in that incident, and stole thousands of dollars from an unsuspecting senior. We’re asking anyone who knows this man or sees him to call police,” said Visintin.
Tips can be forwarded to VPD’s Financial Crime Unit at 604-717-0503 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anyone experiencing a crime-in-progress should still call 9-1-1 immediately.
