Mabel Berald’s quiet morning was shattered when an unsettling phone call jolted her into action.
The voice on the other end spoke with urgency, informing her that her grandson, Mitchell, just sixteen, was in a heap of trouble—arrested with drugs in his car.
The caller’s demand was staggering: $88,000 for Mitchell’s release.
Like any grandparent, Mabel’s first impulse was to protect her grandson at all costs.
But something about the call didn’t sit right with the Ontario grandmother.
With a clear head and a hint of suspicion, she asked the caller for her grandson’s last name—a simple request that made the fraudster hang up abruptly.
Relieved yet still anxious, Mabel immediately rang up her son only to find out that Mitchell was safe at home.
This quick thinking saved her from a potential financial catastrophe.
Mabel’s ordeal didn’t start here — it was actually her second run-in with scam artists.
Previously, she had nearly been conned into withdrawing $7,500 following another distressing phone call that also claimed to involve her grandson.
The plot thickened with the supposed involvement of a police officer and even included a taxi sent to ferry her to her bank, escalating the scam to a more elaborate scheme.
During this earlier incident, a moment of doubt saved her.
When the taxi arrived, Mabel inquired about the fare—something that hadn’t occurred to her to organize.
“I don’t know what made me think about it, but I said to the cab driver, I said, ‘Who’s paying for this cab?’ and he said, ‘I was.’ I says, ‘Oh no, I’m not. I’m not paying for you. I didn’t call for you,'” Mabel told CTV News.
Her skepticism in that moment reflects a vital life lesson: always stay alert and question things that feel out of place, even when under emotional stress.
These scams have left Mabel’s family particularly worried about the potential of future fraudulent attempts targeting her.
Her son, Dave, voices a concern many share when it comes to the vulnerability of the elderly in our families.
Each scam that Mabel has faced not only tests her resilience but also spotlights the broader issue of elder susceptibility to such deceptive tactics.
Detective Sean Harding from the London Police remarks on the cunning nature of these scammers, who manipulate emotions with ease.
“It is okay to hang up. Do not engage them in conversation. They’re professionals, they know what they’re doing, they know how to convince you. They’re called conmen for a reason,” Harding told CTV News.
Harding advocates for a preventive measure known as the ‘Canon two rule.’
After receiving one of these calls, he advises to take ten minutes and talk to two trusted individuals before making any financial decision.
This rule aims to curb the knee-jerk impulse to act hastily under pressure.
Implementing such a strategy can be a lifesaver, providing crucial time to double-check the facts and verify the legitimacy of alarming money requests.
Mabel’s experiences underscore the effectiveness of such a cautious approach and highlight the ongoing need to educate seniors about fraud prevention.
The emotional toll on Mabel from these scams is profound, going beyond potential financial loss.
The stress and the shock of the scams left her feeling physically unwell, serving as a harsh reminder of the often-overlooked emotional impact of such crimes.
Mabel’s story is a compelling reminder of the importance of vigilance in the face of fraud.
It’s more than just a tale of escaping financial peril — it’s a call to foster community support and nurture a healthy skepticism.
Check out Mabel’s full story in the video below!
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