The OPP and officers from 11 police services from Quebec and Ontario; including Toronto, Durham, Peel and York, have arrested 14 people in Montreal.

They face 56 charges in the cross country grandparent scheme.

 

 

In the first four months of this year, 126 identified victims lost about $739,000.

Fifteen of them were scammed multiple times.

OPP started the investigation in September 2022.

Early the following year a task force was set up.

Since February 2022, police say seniors across the country have lost more than $2.2-million.

According to investigators, the ”extremely organized crime group” targeted seniors with a landline, impersonating police officers, judges, law enforcement and loved ones of the victims.

In most cases, unsuspecting couriers or ”money mules” police call them, were used to collect the cash and victims were told not to say anything to anyone due to a ”gag order” they claimed was in effect.

Most of the victims live in Ontario and are between the ages of 46 and 95.