Police working with banks to stop grandparent scams, council also pleased with results of traffic enforcement
An update from the Niagara Regional Police to Pelham town council of work on everything from grandparent scams to traffic enforcement.
There were some impressive numbers in fighting grandparent scams, when a criminal dupes a senior into paying money to "bail a grandchild out of jail".
Inspector Dave Gomez says there were 125 cases in 2022, and 49 last year, and he attributes that to police working with banks. "They are provided with information and documents, and encouraged managers to work with their front line banking staff, to question large cash withdrawals, particularly when it was an elderly person coming in to make these withdrawals. Now, our central fraud unit maintains regular communication with the Niagara branch managers."
In 2022, there was $840,000 in losses, but last year it was $339,000.
Police are also working to increase traffic safety in Pelham.
Mayor Marvin Junkin applauded police for targeting speeding, while Councillor Brian Eckhart was pleased with work at Haist and Brewerton. "Just to let people know that in 2 days they gave out 38 stop sign violation tickets. People are blowing through there at 40kms an hour, they did an excellent job. I notice now on my way to the golf course people are stopping at that intersection."
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