Man facing 20 charges in grandparent scam series
We have charged a man who is believed to be responsible for defrauding more than 20 people out of approximately $186,000 collectively over the span of five weeks.
In September 2025, Calgary police became aware of multiple grandparent scam incidents occurring throughout the city and police began investigating.
As the investigation progressed, officers determined a total of 18 separate incidents that occurred between August 29, 2025, and Oct. 3, 2025, where elderly people were contacted by phone by an unknown woman who used an alias name of Linda Jones. The woman convinced the victims that she was investigating suspicious financial transactions linked to the victims’ bank accounts and was able to obtain the victims’ bank card information, including card pin codes.
The woman explained to the victims that a courier would be sent to their homes to retrieve their bank cards in order to expedite the investigation into the suspicious charges she claimed were linked to their accounts.
In each of the 18 incidents, the same unknown man, who used the alias name Garry Barnes or Norman Weldon, attended the residences of the victims and collected their bank cards, along with various electronics including cell phones and iPads.
It is believed the man then used the personal information and bank cards to fraudulently purchase pre-paid Visa cards or luxury goods, or make large cash withdrawals.
Police obtained a consistent physical description from the victims which led to the identification of the suspect, who police determined had committed similar offences in B.C. and Ontario.
Canada-wide warrants were issued for the male suspect, who was located and arrested by RCMP members in Richmond B.C.
As a result, Joshmin Jerrel GARNETT, 31, is charged with:
· 13 charges of fraud over $5,000
· One count of identity theft
· One count of uttering a forged passport
· Five counts of fraud under $5,000
GARNETT is scheduled to next appear in court on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
We are also warning the public about a new and sophisticated method of cyber fraud, where thieves spoof phone numbers and emails, while also impersonating bankers and police officers.
On the morning of Dec. 10, 2025, a local man received a phone call. His call display indicated it was from BMO, which is his bank.
The person calling asked the man if he’d just made an e-transfer. When the man said he had not, the caller began asking questions about his bank accounts, already possessing some accurate information about them, including how much money was held.
The caller advised the man to deactivate his online bank account while they determined what happened.
A short time later, the victim received another call – once again, his call display indicated it was from his bank.
This person claimed to be the manager of the man’s home branch and advised him to go to the bank and ask a teller to transfer $10,000 from his credit line to his chequing account. The caller said the bank was working with the Calgary Police Service fraud unit, and this would help determine if an employee was defrauding clients.
The man was hesitant, telling the caller the police needed to call him before he would proceed.
A short time later, the man received a call – this time, call display showed “Calgary Police Service” as well as the CPS main phone number.
The person on the other end claimed to be an officer, providing a fake badge number.
The person told the man to go to his bank and ask the teller to transfer the money. He was also told to keep the phone line open the whole time, on speaker mode, but not to inform bank staff.
The victim withdrew $5,000 and was then instructed to deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM in Bowness, NW using a QR code that was so sent to him, so the caller could “track the money.”
The man complied and then received another call, again displayed as BMO on his phone, to withdraw another $5,000 from another branch and deposit it into the same ATM, which he did.
The caller sent the victim an email, purporting to be a record of the transactions, but it was not sent from a legitimate account.
The man realized he’d been defrauded of $10,000 and contacted police that afternoon.
The Calgary Police Service is reminding the public that we will never ask you to send, withdraw, or move money.
We also encourage people to be extremely cautious when receiving phone calls from anyone claiming to be working for a financial institution.
Technology is making cyber crime more frequent and more complex, with fake phone numbers and email addresses closely mimicking real ones.
If someone is unsure of the legitimacy of a phone call, they are encouraged to contact police.
Information on how seniors can protect themselves is available on the Calgary Police Service website. If in doubt, verify the story you are being told by contacting the alleged family member directly or a third-party family member to help.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
CA #25427365/5335