Teen Arrested for Defrauding 89-Year-Old Sherbrooke Woman

Sherbrooke, October 30, 2025 — The Sherbrooke Police Service (SPS) has arrested a 17-year-old from Montreal after an 89-year-old woman was defrauded of several thousand dollars in a sophisticated scam targeting seniors.

Around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a bank employee alerted police after noticing the elderly woman attempting to withdraw a large sum of money. Officers quickly intervened and met with the victim, who explained that she had received a phone call from someone claiming to be part of a police investigation into counterfeit money and financial fraud. The caller told her she needed to hand over thousands of dollars for the supposed investigation, assuring her that an individual would come to her home to collect the money.

A few hours later, patrol officers arrested a suspect who showed up at the victim’s residence to retrieve the cash. The 17-year-old suspect was taken into custody for questioning and is expected to appear in court today on fraud-related charges.

Police confirmed that earlier in the week, the same victim had already given the suspect several thousand dollars and her debit card.

Phone Scam Targeting Seniors

According to the SPS, these types of frauds primarily target elderly residents. Scammers typically call victims while impersonating a family member in legal trouble, a person involved in an accident, or even a police officer conducting an investigation. The caller often pressures the victim to provide cash or debit cards, sending someone in person to collect the money.

If you suspect you may be the victim of such a scam, authorities urge you to hang up immediately and contact the Sherbrooke Police Service at 819-821-5555.

Police Prevention Tips

To help protect yourself and loved ones, the Sherbrooke Police offer the following advice:

Do not give in to pressure, even if the caller seems convincing or urgent.

Never send or hand over money to someone you don’t know.

Never share your debit or credit card or your PIN number.

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call your bank or a family member to verify the situation.

Do not buy prepaid cards — no legitimate company or agency requests payment this way.

If you think someone close to you might be at risk, talk to them and warn them about these scams.

Source: Service de police de Sherbrooke