Two more elderly women, one from Wallaceburg, the other from Dresden, have been scammed out of a combined $15,000.
Chatham-Kent police received the two additional calls about so-called 'grandparent scams' on Friday. The scam involves an unsuspecting person being contacted by someone posing as a family member, a police officer, or a lawyer. They are told that a family member has been charged criminally and needs money for a lawyer or for bail immediately.
The scammer will use panic, threatening language or an aggressive tone to scare the intended victim into making payments. They also often advise the target not to tell anyone.
In the Wallaceburg incident the woman was conned out of $5,000, while the victim in Dresden was taken for $10,000.
Police are encouraging area residents to educate their elderly parents, grandparents and friends about this scam.
For more information about how to recognize and protect against a scam click here. ——————–
A Canada Day morning traffic stop saw Chatham-Kent police remove a suspected impaired driver from behind the wheel.
The driver was stopped on St. Clair Street in Chatham around 11 a.m. on Friday. While speaking to the individual, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol.
A roadside test was administered. The driver was arrested after he failed that test, police said.
A 44-year-old man from the Greater Toronto Area has been charged with impaired driving offences. He has been released from police custody with a future court date.