Couple share story of being scam victims
Georgia and Dave Bartolotta want to help others spot the warning signs and protect themselves
When Georgia Bartolotta answered the phone at her Hamilton home one morning a couple of weeks ago, the voice on the line said: “Hi grandma.”
Grandma? The voice didn’t sound like her 16-year-old grandson. Then his voice started to quiver and he cried, telling her he’d been in an “accident” and was in trouble.
Worried about her grandson, she instantly stopped questioning who was calling.
She handed the phone to her husband, Dave. When the caller said “Hi grandpa, emphasis on the pa,” Dave says it sounded just like his grandson. The caller used the right name — but Georgia later realized she had said it first.
The grandson told them he’d been in a crash that was his fault and that a woman in the other car was pregnant and had gone to hospital. He was arrested and needed money for bail.
That’s when the tearful grandson put his lawyer “Steve” on the phone. Dave and Georgia needed to pay $8,000 cash — a 10 per cent deposit — so their grandson wouldn’t spend the night in jail.
“Emotions took over,” Dave said, adding that the lawyer sounded very professional.
“The love of family, for your grandchild, just overwrote the intelligence level.”
They were told there was a “gag order” — that they couldn’t talk to anyone about what was happening before the trial.
When they went to the bank to take out the money Georgia, not wanting to risk her grandson spending time in jail and missing an exam that afternoon, told the bank she needed the cash for a vacation.
When they got home they called “Steve” back, who arranged for a courier to come pick it up.
When the courier arrived, wearing a safety vest, they were told not to talk to him and that he would not park nearby.
Georgia asked if she could take his picture and he consented. She tried to follow him to see his vehicle, but she was called by Dave who told her “Steve” suddenly needed to talk to her.
Sitting in their home later, things didn’t feel right.
Ignoring the “gag order,” Dave called his grandson who had no idea what he was talking about. Then they spoke with their daugh- ter who told them they had been scammed.
They contacted police.
“I’m angered that it happened, I feel a bit embarrassed,” said Dave, retired from a sales job at Stelco for more than 26 years. “I always thought this would never happen to me, but it did.”
Georgia said they are usually very aware of scams. She never fell for the fake credit card or tax calls. But it was the emotion, the urgency in needing to help her grandson that got her.
They are sharing their story to help raise awareness so this doesn’t happen to others.
Crimes have ‘skyrocketed’
Det. Phil Poirier, of the Hamilton police crimes against seniors unit, said emergency scams, predominantly grandparent scams have “skyrocketed.”
In his year and a half in the unit, there have been over 100 of these scams and almost half a million dollars in losses reported to Hamilton police. Where they used to get maybe a handful a year, they’re now seeing reports almost daily.
RCMP, OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) report that grandparent or emergency scams have significantly increased across the country. OPP in Haldimand County report they’ve been “inundated” with these fraud calls, many following the same pattern as what happened to the Bartolottas.
In 2022, more than $9.2 million was reported lost to emergency scams, up significantly from $2.4 million in 2021. This includes $5.4 million in reported losses in Ontario. These increases are despite the fact that it’s estimated only five to 10 per cent of victims report to CAFC or police.
Poirier said seniors are the primary targets; fraudsters are organized and prey on emotions. They are often very difficult to investigate because the fraud is reported after the fact.
Police can check phone numbers and look for surveillance video, but scammers are sophisticated and leave little trace of their true identities.
Years ago, Canada Revenue Agency scams were more common, but many are wise to those now. Grandparent scams have become increasingly popular and lucrative.
They use high emotion and high pressure tactics to “tug on the heartstrings” of seniors who would do anything for their grandkids or relatives.
People should know police, the courts or anyone involved in the justice system would never call or mail someone asking for money. Bail hearings are held in court and people called to be sureties have to appear in court and typically don’t have to put money down right away.
Poirier said scammers often use American language, such as calling police stations “precincts” or “gag order.”
In the hundreds of victims he’s interviewed there is always the same pattern — once they convince the victims it is their loved one on the line, they don’t see red flags. It is only after during interviews that they spot the clues.
“All those red flags they would normally see, they’re blinded to them because they’re working on emotion,” he said.
The best advice Poirier and the Bartolottas have is to just stop and take a breath. Realize it’s not urgent. Call your family, a neighbour, the police.
Police don’t know how or why scammers target their victims, but Poirier said most are seniors reached on land lines. Typically the fraudsters ask for less than $10,000, so as not to trigger the bank. The average is $9,000.
For the Bartolottas $8,000 is a big loss. Georgia said she had to take the money from two accounts and had just received pension and benefit money.
“It is definitely going to hurt us,” Dave said, adding that they are resigned to the fact that they’re probably not getting the money back. They are just hoping others don’t fall victim.
Poirier hopes to prevent such crimes from happening. But if they do happen, it is important to report to police because small clues can be a piece in the puzzle that help police connect cases or track trends.
He also encourages younger people to talk to their grandparents about the warning signs.
She never fell for the fake credit card or tax calls. But it was the emotion, the urgency in needing to help her ‘grandson’ that got her