Kelowna RCMP are looking for a female suspect wanted in connection with a grandparent scam and is asking for the public’s help.
The elderly victim received a call in early February from someone who identified themselves as ‘Sergeant Ashley Olsen’. The suspect explained the victim’s grandson had been arrested in a police incident and money was needed immediately to pay a bond and instructed the victim to withdraw a large sum of money from the bank.
In the instructions, the suspect stated someone would arrive within 24 hours to collect the money. They spoke with urgency on the phone to the victim and said they were doing this “for her convenience.”
Around 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, the suspect arrived and collected the money at the victim’s home in the 1300-block of Ellis Street. That is when the female suspect was last seen.
A few hours after the suspect picked up the money, they called the victim again with more details about her grandson’s arrest and demanded more money to secure his release from custody. When the victim attempted to make another withdrawal from the bank, the bank employee recognized what was happening, stopped the second withdrawal and informed the victim they were being scammed.
The female suspect is described as:
• Approximately 25-30 years old;
• Believed to be of Latin descent;
• Long dark-coloured hair;
• Strong eyebrows;
• Black coloured leggings, black boots, denim coloured shirt.
“When confronted with a similar scam, reach out to family immediately to confirm the legitimacy of their claim and then phone the police if there is still some concern,” states the Kelowna RCMP. “Police encourage the public to report all attempted frauds to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-800-495-8501 as they link a number of crimes together in Canada and abroad helping with prevention and awareness efforts.”
If anyone recognizes this individual and knows any information, they are to call the Kelowna RCMP at at 250-762-3300 and give the file number 2024-7013 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppers.net.