In recent years, grandparent scam have surged across North America, preying on the older people with emotional manipulation and fraudulent stories. These scams often begin with a phone call—one that sounds like a grandchild in trouble and ends with thousands of dollars sent in panic.
The Rise of Grandparent Scams Targeting the older people
One of the most prolific operations behind this fraud, has been traced back to Montreal, Canada. Where police have uncovered multiple organized networks orchestrating these crimes.
A Retired Nurse Becomes a Target
Madeline, an American retiree in her 80s who dedicated her life to nursing, became a victim of such a scheme in 2020. Just months after the COVID-19 pandemic began, she received a call from someone claiming her son was in legal trouble. Desperate to help, she withdrew nearly all of her savings and prepared to send the funds to what she believed was a legal representative.
Unfortunately, the caller wasn’t a lawyer—it was a scammer operating from a Montreal-based fraud ring.
Although authorities intercepted the fraud before the cash reached the scammers, the emotional damage had already taken its toll. Madeline felt terrified and humiliated, her daughter Janelle explained. “It shook her to the core,” she said.
A Luxury Life Funded by Fraud
Authorities later uncovered that the network behind this and other scams enjoyed lavish lifestyles while their victims suffered. David Anthony Di Rienzo, the alleged leader, reportedly owned four Mercedes-Benz cars and a $600,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Meanwhile, victims like Madeline lived with anxiety, shame, and financial hardship. Many had to rely on small pensions or social security, with little hope of recovering the stolen funds.
Learn more. How AI voice cloning is being used in elder fraud scams
Emotional Manipulation as a Strategy
Investigators discovered that scammers followed scripts designed to trigger emotional responses. In one documented case, Giordano De Luca posed as a victim’s grandchild, telling an 86-year-old woman he loved her and needed bail money. While a bank stopped the transaction, court records noted that De Luca and others “emotionally manipulated, abused, and intimidated” their victims.
From 2022 to early 2024, the group collected over $1 million from unsuspecting Canadian older people.
“Grandparent Scam” The Lasting Impact on Victims
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson, presiding over the sentencing of Darlens Renard, one of Di Rienzo’s alleged accomplices, said:
“What you all took from these people was so much more than money… You took their peace of mind. You also brought shame to them because they were ashamed of having been fooled.”
Renard was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. But for many victims, the psychological damage lingers far longer.
‘It Breaks My Heart’: A Daughter’s Pain
Madeline’s scam was ultimately thwarted. When a courier employee noticed a suspicious package containing $28,000 and flagged it. But even though the money was never delivered, the emotional toll persisted.
“She asked me not to tell my siblings,” Janelle recalled. “It made her feel ashamed—like she’d done something wrong.”
Madeline passed away in 2022. Her obituary described a kind, loving woman whose family meant everything to her.
Montreal’s Role in the Scam Epidemic
Police have dismantled multiple grandparent scam operations in Montreal over the past few years. But many more remain under investigation. These criminal organizations often work across borders, targeting vulnerable older people in the U.S. and Canada with devastating precision.
Watch now. Why so many grandparent scams are linked to Montreal (CBC News)
What You Can Do to Stay Safe: “Grandparent Scam”
If you or someone you know receives a suspicious call involving a loved one in distress, take these steps:
- Hang up and verify the story independently.
- Contact a trusted family member directly.
- Never send cash or wire transfers based on a phone call alone.
- Report the incident to local authorities or Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Final Thoughts
Janelle has said she’s ready to testify if called upon. She believes it’s what her mother would have wanted.
“She would help anyone who needed it,” Janelle said. “And I know she’d want justice—for herself and for others like her.”
As the cases move toward trial, the spotlight remains on Montreal’s role in international scam networks, and on the need for stronger protections for our most vulnerable citizens.
Want to protect your loved ones from scams like these?
Check out our guide on How to Spot and Stop older people Financial Fraud for practical advice and prevention tips.
