Charges laid in grandparent scam
We have charged two individuals in relation to a series of fraud incidents targeting elderly Calgarians and continue to look for two additional suspects.
Last month, we were alerted to multiple instances of a similar scam targeting elderly citizens believed to have occurred between Tuesday, Dec. 7 and Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021.
The most recent report we received was from a victim who said she was contacted via phone by a man pretending to be her grandson. He told her that he had been arrested by police and needed money for bail. The conversation was then turned over to a man who impersonated a police officer and told the victim that she needed to pay thousands of dollars in bail fees.
It is important to note that Calgary Police Service officers, and other law enforcement officers, are not involved in collecting bail money from citizens.
The victim was told a court appointed courier would come to her home to collect the cash payment. A couple of days later, an unknown woman attended the home to take the victim’s money.
She is described as approximately 20 to 25 years old, with brown hair, and at the time of the offence was wearing a black winter hat, blue face mask, a dark coloured winter coat and blue jeans. A photo of the suspect is available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.
In addition to the unknown female suspect, we continue to search for Makayla MENTIS, 24, who is believed to be related to these frauds.
MENTIS is wanted on warrants for three counts of fraud over $5,000 and three counts of possession of property obtained by crime. A photo of MENTIS is available on The City of Calgary Newsroom.
On Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, our investigators executed a search warrant on a downtown apartment, two storage units and two vehicles, believed to be associated with the above frauds. Two suspects were subsequently arrested and charged.
Kashywayne COLIE, 27, is charged with:
- Hazardous storage of a firearm
- Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of a restricted/prohibited weapon
- Possession of a firearm without a license
- Possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm with ammunition
- Possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order
- Three counts of breach of a release order
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Fraud over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime
Shannon BELCOURT, 37, is charged with:
- Fraud over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime
Information on how seniors can protect themselves, along with a description of how the the grandparent scam is typically played out, is available on the Calgary Police Service website.
Anyone with information about these scams, the whereabouts of Makayla MENTIS, or the identity of the unknown female suspect, is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
Case #21486127/21494420/21490831/2206719/21507694/4537