Amherstburg taxi driver hailed as hero for stopping scam of senior Public encouraged to educate others on the “Grandparents Scam”

By RTT Staff

An Amherstburg taxi driver is being hailed as a hero after stepping in to prevent a local senior from being scammed out of thousands of dollars.

According to the Windsor Police Service –Amherstburg Detachment, local taxi driver Abdullahi Farah picked up an 86-year-old passenger who requested that Farah take her to a financial institution. Farah spoke with the woman and discovered she was being scammed by a person claiming that the woman’s grandson was arrested.

The scam was that the senior was asked to withdraw money from her bank account and bail her grandson out of jail.

The Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment was notified and officers met with Farah and the woman at the local financial institution and prevented any transaction from taking place.

“We would like to thank Mr. Farah for his quick thinking and fast action,” said Windsor Police Chief Jason Bellaire. “He came across a person in trouble and selflessly took it upon himself to help them. His actions are commendable and an extraordinary example of good citizenship.”

Windsor police adds that not all grandparent scams are thwarted by good Samaritans like Farah and they encourage the community to educate elderly relatives and friends about this scam and what can be done to protect themselves.

More information on the “grandparents scam” can be found at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/emergency-urgenceeng.htm.