Guelph Senior Loses Over $300,000 in Year-Long Scam

A phone call that seemed official quickly turned into a months-long deception, costing a Guelph woman in her 80s more than $300,000. Her story highlights how easily scammers can exploit fear and authority – and why residents need to stay alert.

Residents are again reminded to be cautious when dealing with unknown individuals after a Guelph senior lost more than $300,000 to a scam which continued for a year.

The woman in her 80s reported she was contacted in late 2024 by someone claiming they were investigating her for identity theft. She began receiving calls from someone claiming to represent the Attorney General of Canada, reporting that these calls continued several times a week.

Eventually the caller began providing instructions how to deposit funds at Bitcoin ATM machines, claiming these were part of the fraud investigation and would be returned once the woman was cleared. Throughout much of this year the woman attended ATMs across the city and deposited funds, often thousands of dollars at a time.

When she eventually told her family what was happening they advised her to contact police. The victim acknowledged to police she should have reported it sooner, but was embarrassed it had gone on so long.

Residents are encouraged to be wary of any telephone call, email or text which requires you to take immediate action. It is always best to independently contact the supposed sender and confirm the legitimacy of the correspondence before taking action.

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Even if no financial loss has been sustained, interactions can still be reported to the CAFC.