(Photos of a female suspect in the so-called "emergency" or "grandparents" scam courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police)(Photos of a female suspect in the so-called "emergency" or "grandparents" scam courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police)
Windsor

OPP raise alarm about uptick in fraud in Essex County

The Ontario Provincial Police is very concerned about a sharp rise in fraud cases in the past few days.

Since Monday, police officers have responded to 14 separate incidents.

Just two of them added up to a financial loss of $15,000.

All of them are what police have dubbed the "grandparent" or "emergency" scam.

In each case, the victim got a call from someone representing a family member who was in police custody and needed money to post bail.

Police do have an image of a female suspect wanted in two of the incidents where the victims handed over the cash. She left the area in a silver minivan.

(Photo of a female suspect in the so-called (Photo of a female suspect in the so-called "emergency" or "grandparents" scam courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police)

(Photo of a female suspect in the so-called (Photo of a female suspect in the so-called "emergency" or "grandparents" scam courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police)

(A minivan driven by a fraud suspect courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police)(A minivan driven by a fraud suspect courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police)

Investigators hope someone will recognize the woman and call them at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can be left online at www.catchcrooks.com.

The investigation is ongoing.

On Thursday, a Windsor woman received a similar call from someone who said he was her grandson. She recognized the scam for what it was and called the police. They charged a 19-year-old Windsor man and a 22-year-old man from Tecumseh.

Read More Local Stories

Photo by Sarah Joy via Flickr

Owen Sound Library session gets cyclists ready to roll

Dust off those handlebars and pump up those tires because cycling season is officially upon us! If your trusty two-wheeler is looking a bit more "rusty" than "ready," the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library has just the thing to get you back on the road safely.