Two people charged in Winnipeg ‘grandparent scam’
Posted August 12, 2022 2:44 pm.
Winnipeg police have charged two people in relation to the “grandparent scam.”
The scam often sees fraudsters pretending to be the grandchildren of their elderly victims, claiming they need money because they are in trouble.
WPS first reported the scam in October 2021 and released another warning about it in March, saying the scam had escalated to the point people were showing up at the victim’s house.
In late July, WPS said 15 incidents were reported, at which point investigators issued another public warning.
BACKGROUND: 15 new incidents of ‘grandparent scam’ reported in last six days: WPS
On July 29, officers issued a search warrant at a house on Sommerville Avenue. During the search, evidence linking the suspects of the offences was uncovered and police were able to determine nine seniors had paid a combined $100,000 into the scam.
Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva, an 18-year-old from North York, Ontario, and Gabriella Edith Marie Paradis, a 25-year-old from Walpole Island, Ontario, are both facing multiple fraud and possession of property charges.
Winnipeg police say an investigation is still ongoing.
