Twenty-five Canadians indicted in multimillion dollar Grandparent Scam targeting elderly victims

Twenty-five Canadians who were part of a multi-million dollar “Grandparent Scam” have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Vermont on fraud and money laundering charges. The indictment was unsealed Tuesday as Canadian authorities, with U.S. federal law enforcement support, worked to continue the round-up of criminal defendants. As of Tuesday afternoon, all but two defendants appeared to be in custody. The conspiracy is believed to have pocketed $21 million by stealing from victims across at least 45 states, including all six New England states and New York, between the summer of 2021 and June 4, 2024, according to the indictment. The defendants conspired to defraud elderly individuals in Vermont and elsewhere through phone calls from call centers in and around Montreal.