The RCMP is launching a fraud prevention campaign next week to raise awareness about a significant increase in emergency-grandparent scams targeting Canadian seniors.

Last year, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received fraud reports totaling $530,000,000 in victim losses.

This was nearly a 40 per cent increase from the 2021 unprecedented $380,000,000 in losses.

Fraudsters target anyone and everyone, particularly the vulnerable and seniors. In 2022, more than $9.2 million was reported lost to emergency scams, an increase from $2.4 million in 2021.

In BC over $322,000 was reported lost to the emergency-grandparent scam - however, it’s estimated only 5-10 percent of victims report scams or fraud.

Emergency scams, including variations called "grandparent scams", use urgency and the manipulation of emotions to extort money from victims, with fraudsters cold calling seniors, claiming to be family members, most often grandkids, saying they’re in trouble and need help.

If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and also report it to the CAFC.

As well, RCMO are urging that if  you know a senior or have an elderly family member, to  reach out to them and have a conversation on what to do if they get a phone call like this and consider coming up with a code word.

For more information, visit RCMP.