Suspect sought following scam in Wabamun

WABAMUN -- Parkland RCMP are seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect connected with a recent grandparents scam.

Mounties say that the incident took place on Jan. 27, 2026, when the victim received a phone call from a man claiming that his grandson had been arrested and required bail money. A short time later, a male suspect attended the victim's home and obtained $8,500 in cash from the victim. The victim was able to provide doorbell camera footage of the suspect to police.

The male suspect is described as:

• Approximately 30-years-old
• Approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall
• A bit of a beard/facial hair
• Wearing a dark coat
• Dark complexion

According to RCMP, the best defence against these types of scams is education. They ask residents to please speak to loved ones:

• Never send or give money to anyone you don’t know or haven't confirmed their identity.
• Bail is always paid in person at a courthouse or correctional centre, and is never in the form of gift cards or BitCoin.
• If a person claims to be a police officer or judge, call that police service or court house directly to confirm the situation and identity of the caller.
• Never give out personal information over the phone or online to someone you don't know.
• If you receive a call from someone saying they are a friend or family member and they need emergency money, hang up and call them yourself to ensure the person is who they say they are. Fraudsters have the ability to change their caller ID information to say anything they want. With new technology, there are also applications that can mimic the voice of anyone.

Police are requesting that anyone who recognizes the suspect contact the Parkland RCMP at 825-220-7267(RCMP). If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).