Toronto police are warning members of the city’s Russian-speaking community to be on high alert as a surge of targeted phone scams has put elderly residents at risk of losing large sums of money.
Scammers are reportedly calling victims while posing as family members, friends, or acquaintances. During the call, they claim to have been involved in a serious incident — often a car crash or medical emergency — and urgently request financial help. The suspects then instruct victims to collect large amounts of cash and arrange to meet a stranger at a designated location, where an accomplice arrives by vehicle to pick up the money.
Throughout the scam, police say, suspects keep victims on the phone to prevent them from contacting others and verifying the story.
“The Toronto Police Service urges the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution. If you receive a suspicious call of this nature, hang up immediately and report it to the police,” the service said in a statement. Officers stressed that no one should ever provide personal or financial information to unknown callers or send money to strangers.
Anyone with information about these scams is asked to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-3200 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online.
Authorities are also reminding the public to take preventive steps to avoid scams. The Ontario government advises residents to ignore suspicious emails, avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or attachments, and never share sensitive personal, credit card, or banking information over the phone. If someone calls claiming to be a loved one, police, or a financial institution, the safest response is to hang up and call the organization or person directly to confirm their identity.
Victims are urged to stop communicating with scammers immediately, update their personal accounts and passwords, inform their bank, lock credit cards, and report the incident to both local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Keeping records — including communications, receipts, financial statements, and contact information — can help authorities investigate and prevent future fraud.