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York Region woman, 95, loses $19K in grandparent scam

York Regional Police have arrested an 18-year-old man from Brampton and a 21-year-old woman from Cambridge in connection with the fraud investigation
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A 95-year-old York Region woman lost more than $19,000 after falling victim to a grandparent scam.

The woman originally was defrauded of more than $13,000 last October, according to York Regional Police, and then another $6,000 when a suspect called to demand more money on Nov. 1.

The suspect then came to the victim’s residence in a vehicle, with a second suspect driving, to collect the cash.

Investigators located the vehicle and stopped it in the Oshawa area after the additional money was taken from the woman.

An 18-year-old man from Brampton and a 21-year-old woman from Cambridge have been arrested in connection with the grandparent scam investigation, police said.

The suspects have been linked to four incidents so far, police said.

Keyshan Rose and Lorencz Sparks face four charges each of fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and extortion, police said.

In these scams, criminals will call an elderly person posing as a grandchild in distress, demanding money to get them out of trouble.

In some cases, a second suspect will play the role of a government official, police officer or lawyer who provides instructions on how the victim can deliver the money. These types of frauds may be repeated over the course of days, weeks or even months, as the criminals gain the trust of their victims, police said.

A list of ongoing scams as well as tips to avoid becoming a victim, are available at yrp.ca/fraud.