MHPS cracks down on ‘grandparent scam’ following investigation, arrest three

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 22, 2024.

Medicine Hat police have arrested and charged three Calgary men for their involvement in running a local phone bank scam that typically targets senior residents after receiving a report Oct. 17.

The three suspects, Rahual Dudra, Kumar Rajat and Kaskirat Singh, all 25 years old, were charged with two counts of theft over $5,000, two counts of fraud over $5,000 and extortion.

All three were arrested in Medicine Hat by local officers with the assistance of ALERT Medicine Hat by “using specialist techniques that turned the table on the scammer,” states a press release, resulting in the apprehension of the suspects.

In this scenario a senior was contacted by a scammer pretending to be an investigator from their bank, claiming their identity had been compromised and their account had been used for illegal activity.

“The senior was told that they were required to pay for an investigation through their bank security service to clear their name, and the money would be refunded to them at the conclusion of the investigation.”

As a result the three men were released following a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and are expected to be back in court in Medicine Hat on Nov. 5.

Throughout the year police have been issuing warnings of the phone scam, where, in a typical scenario a grandparent receives a phone call from a scammer pretending to be a family member in trouble and requires money.

“The caller will sometimes say that they are in trouble, usually a car accident, returning from a foreign country, or even in jail and need money immediately,” states a press release issued in April.

Variations on the scam can include an old neighbour or friend of the family and predominantly is directed towards seniors and grandparents.

To report a similar phone scam you can reach police at 403-529-8481.

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