Nick Noorani Website

A group of con artists who have been scamming new Canadians appear to be targeting seniors from the Mediterranean.
The scammers claiming to be distant relatives who need money when they approach recent immigrants.
“This scam has re-emerged of late and we have recognized a very small pattern in victims of a Mediterranean background – most notably Italian,” Cst. Adam Minnion of Peel Regional Police said this morning (Jan 9). “The trend is minor, but it does exist. We would like to alert the Italian residents within our community, and all others, that this scam exists.”
A month ago, Peel Regional Police appealed to the media in a bid to warn the public of a fraud scheme targeting seniors who are relatively new to Canada.

Police said, “the suspect pretends to be a distant relative, who has just arrived in Canada, speaks to the victim in their native language and convinces the victim that they are related. After gaining the victim’s confidence, the suspect will typically ask for a quantity of money, usually to put towards the purchase of a vehicle. The victim is usually promised that the money will be paid back.”
Someone else, identifying himself as a friend of the relative, usually comes to the door to collect the cash.
Anyone who has any information about this scam should call the fraud bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3335 or Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
http://www.mississauganews.com/article/22820