(St. John’s, NL), March 3, 2023 – The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) have made an arrest following an investigation related to fraud in St. John’s.

On February 28, 2023, at approximately 2:40 p.m., RNC Operational Patrol Services (OPS) responded to a report of fraud at a residence in St. John’s. Officers determined that an individual had made a phone call to the resident, stating they were a grandchild in need, followed by a supposed public official stating that a payment was required to release the individual from an arrest. This fraud is known as a ‘grandparent’ scam. The RNC received over a dozen more reports of a similar nature, in some cases resulting in losses of thousands of dollars.

The RNC Economic Crime Unit (ECU) launched an investigation into the events, engaging significant resources within the RNC Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

As a result of the investigation, on March 2, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm, members of the RNC CID and Operational Patrol Services located and arrested 23–year-old Charles GILLEN, believed to reside in Ontario, in connection with the fraud scheme. GILLEN was placed under arrest at St. John’s International Airport and has been held in custody to appear in Provincial Court on charges of fraud over $5000.00, extortion and conspiracy to commit an offence.

The investigation is ongoing, and based on the information gathered by officers, the RNC ECU believe that the accused attempted to fraudulently obtain money from other members of the community. The RNC request that anyone with information to assist this investigation provide a report.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary ECU and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre offer some helpful tips to prevent fraud from happening to you or your loved ones.

• If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be law enforcement, looking to obtain personal information, end the conversation and contact you’re the police agency directly.
• Anyone seeking large transactions of cash within a short time period is to be deemed suspicious.
• Use caution posting online. Fraudsters can gather information from your social media accounts that will make their claims of sound legitimate.
• Don’t trust a number just because it is local or familiar. Fraudsters may use technology that will disguise their actual contact.
• If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be a family member who has been arrested, in hospital, or in an emergency requiring immediate money transfers, hang up the phone and contact the person and/or agencies mentioned directly.
• If you receive any type of unsolicited mail, phone call, email or text messages that asks for any type of personal information, do not respond and delete or discard it immediately.
• If you are conducting any type of business online or over the phone to make sure you know who you are dealing with.

Any individuals experiencing stress or mental health crisis as a result of this information, please contact the mental health crisis line through 8-1-1.

Anyone with information regarding these type scams or any similar incidents, is asked to contact the RNC at 729-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can now provide information anonymously on the NL Crime Stoppers Website at www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app #SayItHere

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File # 2022-10625

Cst. James. C. Cadigan  #775
Media Relations & Public Communication
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
media@rnc.gov.nl.ca