The Winnipeg police Financial Crime Unit arrested a 24-year-old man from Quebec in relation to a local grandparent phone scam on Friday.
According to police, in February a Winnipegger in his 80s received a phone call from someone pretending to be a justice official.
The scammers allegedly indicated that the victim’s relative had been arrested and required money to avoid going to jail.
The victim agreed to pay, and a man they did not know came to their home and picked up the money.
The victim later checked with their family and discovered this story wasn’t true and they had been scammed.
The police identified two suspects but later dropped the charges against one of them.
The 24-year-old has been charged with fraud under $5,000 and two counts of failing to comply with probation order. He remained in custody.