Beware! Drayton Valley residents warned about the grandparents scam

Todayville Edmonton

Published

3 years ago

2 minute read

March 24, 2021

Drayton Valley, Alta. – Drayton Valley RCMP warns the public about the grandparents scam that has been circulating in the area.

Grandparent scams are common scams that target seniors and usually involve a phone call from someone who pretends to be a grandchild. If you get a call like this, be prepared: the scammer may already know your grandchild’s name and what your grandchild calls you (for example, a nickname like Nona or Grampy).

Acting as your grandchild, the scammer claims to be in trouble and asks for your help. The scammer may try to convince you that your grandchild was in a car accident or has been arrested and needs bail money. You may be asked to wire money, buy gift cards or bitcoin right away, without telling anyone.

They pull at your heartstrings so they can trick you into sending money before you realize it is a scam. To make the story seem more credible, the caller might also put another person on the phone to act like a police officer or lawyer.

Fortunately there are a few simple steps that you can take to avoid falling victim to this scam:

Resist the urge to act immediately – no matter how dramatic the story is.
Ask the caller a few personal questions that a real grandchild could answer but a scammer could not.
After you hang up, verify the story by calling the parents or other relatives of the “grandchild”.
Never wire money, sent gifts or bitcoin to someone under uncertain conditions. It is nearly impossible to recover or trace money that has been wired.
Remember police officers will not request anyone to sent money for anything.

For more information on scams contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or toll free at 1-888-495-8501. If you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or financial information unwittingly, contact your local police detachment.

Related Topics:Drayton Valley feature scam

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“Alberta’s government is opposed to the federal government’s plan to relocate tens of thousands of asylum claimants to Alberta, especially without any financial assistance to support the province in doing so.

“Alberta has always welcomed newcomers who possess our shared values – and we will continue to do so.

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Police seize more than 66 kg of illicit drugs in interprovincial trafficking investigation

Published on September 12, 2024

Todayville Edmonton

News release from the Edmonton Police Service

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has seized more than 66 kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin in a large-scale drug investigation in central Edmonton.

In December 2023, members of the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section (EDGE) initiated an inter-provincial drug trafficking investigation.

During the investigation, three male suspects were noted to be involved in various aspects of inter-provincial drug trafficking, including transporting drugs into and out of Alberta, as well as distributing them throughout Edmonton, including the inner-city community. A storage location for the drugs was located in a central Edmonton high rise apartment.

On May 9, 2024, police executed search warrants at three residences and four vehicles. As a result of the search warrants, EDGE members seized:

55.7 kg of methamphetamine, worth approximately $250,650
8.7 kg of cocaine, worth approximately $696,000
2.5 kg of fentanyl, worth approximately $300,000
83.5 grams of heroin, worth approximately $28,400
20 kg of buffing agent
Five handguns, three of which were loaded at the time of seizure and two of which had defaced serial numbers. Two were also reported stolen in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and one originated from the U.S.
Four vehicles with hidden compartments
Approximately $20,000 in various currency

Drugs and firearms located in one of EPS’ largest-ever drug seizures

“This investigation is believed to be one of the largest, if not the largest, seizure of controlled substances in EPS history,” says Staff Sergeant David Paton, with the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement (EDGE) Section. “Intercepting this huge volume of extremely harmful street drugs before they wreak havoc in our city is a rewarding outcome for our investigators, who have worked tirelessly for months on this operation.”

Jesse Koble, 29, is facing 27 charges, Mitchell Steeg, 31, is charged with nine offences, and Steven Santillana, 34 is charged with two offences, for a total of 38 drug and firearms-related criminal charges.

The EPS takes a strategic approach to drug and organized crime related violence through its Guns and Gangs Strategy. This plan considers the unique factors driving serious crime in the city, identifying key focus areas that require increased and sustained effort to reduce victimization and improve community safety.

The strategy leverages EPS’ internal expertise and external partnerships with other enforcement and social agencies to strike a balance between education, suppression, intervention, and prevention. It encompasses immediate and long-term solutions that both hold those perpetrating violence accountable and lead willing individuals away from gang association.