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Gull Lake couple warn public to be aware of phone calls from persons using false identity

A Gull Lake couple were almost, but not quite fooled by a phone call made by someone pretending to be their grandson.

A Gull Lake couple were almost, but not quite fooled by a phone call made by someone pretending to be their grandson who said they need money in a hurry to get out of jail.

Catherine Ford said she got a phone call last Thursday morning from someone impersonating her grandson. The person said he had been in a car accident and had been charged with drunk driving.

“The story was so believable,” she said. “He said he had been drinking at a venue with a buddy who was too drunk to drive. He said he had only had a couple of drinks so he figured he would be fine. But, as it turned out they were in an accident and he had been arrested for drunk driving.”

The person on the phone, pretending to be the Ford’s grandson, said his lawyer would be contacting them.

In an email to the Review, Kirk Ford said a person, pretending to be their grandson’s lawyer, Adam White, said he wanted an Interac card number.

“Since I was unable to give him a number he graciously invited me to use Western Union and make a money transfer of $995 to a Mr. Richard Thomas located in West Westmount, Quebec. I was asked to tell Western Union that it was a personal amount for Mr. Thomas and not a business transaction. Apparently this was very important.”

The attempt to dupe the couple out of the money was thwarted when the Fords, who had become suspicious of these demands, were able to contact their grandson by telephone at work.

“Jesse was at work,” said Catherine Ford. “He was fine.”

The couple warns the public to be wary of phone calls such as the one they received.

“Always phone the person," said Ford. "If you cannot get a phone number to call back, be suspicious."

The Canadian Anti Fraud Center can be contacted at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcenter.ca