by Lyonel Doherty

Editorial

The next time a suspected scammer hits you up for money, introduce him to the Elizabeth Davis School of Scam Busters.

While no expert, Elizabeth smelled a rat (or something worse) when she received a call from a man claiming to be her grandson, Joel . . . sitting in a Quebec jail. He needed $5,000 to get out and taste freedom again.

First off, Joel didn’t sound like Joel, and what was he doing in Montreal when he lives in Alberta? The story just didn’t jive, so Elizabeth decided to string him along for a bit.

“I can’t see very good (to sign a cheque),” she explained.

Then she baited him by saying her daughter would need to accompany her to the bank, which threw another wrench into the imposter’s scheme.

Good on Elizabeth. She did the right thing and wasn’t a fool by sending that cheque. We only wish more people wouldn’t fall prey to scum like this, who sleep great knowing they bilked yet another innocent pensioner.

We can’t fathom why anyone would send money to a stranger overseas or even the next township. If you don’t know the person, or if there’s any ounce of suspicion about a transaction, don’t get involved. Remember, it’s not rude to hang up on a suspicious caller, it’s smart, and you’re actually doing your part to stop phone fraud.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, there were nearly 4,000 complaints by Canadians during the month of June 2010. The number of actual victims was 1,016, with a dollar loss of $2.1 million.

The centre offers numerous tips on how to recognize a scam. They include: you must send money to get the goods; you must give your private financial information; it sounds too good to be true; the caller is more excited than you are; and it’s a limited opportunity.

To protect yourself: hang up immediately; request a call back number or references; ask the advice of a close friend or relative; request written information.

Legitimate business people will be happy to provide you with information prior to your purchase, and they will not pressure you into making quick decisions.

The call centre says once a person has succumbed to a ruthless fraud, his or her name and number will likely go on a “sucker list,” which is sold from one crook to another.

For a list of scams to watch out for, visit www.phonebusters.com.