Police Chief Eric M. Shears reports that more than 30 people have been indicted in an international scam operation that victimized a Merrimac resident and hundreds of people across 40 states.
The indictment alleges that from the summer of 2021 to June 4, 2024, the defendants engaged in a “Grandparent Scam” involving phone calls made from call centers in and around Montreal, Québec. In this scam older residents receive a call from someone purporting to be a grandchild who is in jail and needs bail money.
On Dec. 22, 2022, a Merrimac resident received such a call, and spoke with people posing as a grandchild and an attorney. The grandmother followed the purported attorney’s instructions and provided $18,000 in cash to an individual who arrived at her property later in the day.
The resident called Merrimac Police after speaking with her grandchild and realizing they had never been in jail.
“These scams are particularly dangerous, because they create fear among our most vulnerable residents and exploit that fear for financial gain. Scammers trust that their victims will be too ashamed to come forward,” said Detective Stephen Beaulieu, who led the Merrimac investigation. “Fortunately our resident, and many others across the country, assisted law enforcement by reporting this scam.”
Following a lengthy investigation, federal prosecutors determined that victims’ money was transmitted to Canada by delivery or through financial transactions that sometimes involved cryptocurrency. These methods were intended to shield the identities of those indicted.
Most of the 34 people under indictment are from Quebec, though others are from Ontario, New York, Florida, and China.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office estimates the scam preyed on hundreds of victims who were defrauded out of more than $21 million. Five of those indicted also face federal money laundering charges.
Chief Shears and Detective Beaulieu wish to recognize the multiple agencies that are collaborating to find justice for these victims: The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Vermont, Vermont-based agents from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Sûreté du Québec, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the International Assistance Group at Justice Canada.
The Merrimac Police Department would like to share the following tips from the Federal Trade Commission regarding these types of scams:
- Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.
- Verify the person’s identity by asking questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer.
- Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine.
- Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
- Don’t wire money – or send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier.
- Report possible fraud at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.
For more information on grandparent and bail scams, click here.
Residents who believe they may have fallen victim to such a scam are encouraged to contact the Merrimac Police Department at 978-346-8321.
