That text from your ‘child’ could be a scam, P.E.I. RCMP warn

Thinh Nguyen · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 21, 2026 9:24 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 21

RCMP say they continue to receive reports on P.E.I. of text and phone scams in which fraudsters pretend to be children or other relatives in urgent need of money.

Cpl. Gavin Moore, the P.E.I. RCMP’s media relations officer, said the scheme builds on the long-running “grandparent scam,” in which someone pretends to be a grandchild in trouble and asks for money.

And that has shifted to target parents.

“A parent will receive a text from an unknown person, a number they're not familiar with, and the text purports to be their child,” Moore said.

“They explain that their phone has been lost or damaged, and this is a friend's number, and that they urgently need money.”

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The scammer then asks for e‑transfers or other forms of payment and hopes the parent reacts before checking if the message is real.

RCMP said in a news release Thursday that scammers are becoming “increasingly sophisticated.” They may claim to be using a friend’s phone or manipulate caller ID and use information from social media to make their messages look legitimate.

“Islanders have been asked for thousands of dollars to be sent, making these scams a potentially serious financial threat,” the release said.

RCMP have received several complaints about the scam in recent months on the Island, but Moore said that might not show the full picture.

“The number of reports that come into police is not necessarily a great indication of the number of incidents,” he said.

“Say somebody did not lose any money, they would be less likely to report that to police. And also, those who do lose money, we do believe that as little as five per cent of victims report to police whenever they become a victim.”

Moore said shame can also prevent people from reporting fraud.

“Anytime somebody is a victim of a fraud, this can be quite embarrassing, whether the amount is large or small,” he said.

“But victims should know that there is a scam out there for everybody, and that you're not alone. And to please reach out to police, and we can help guide you to the next steps.”

RCMP encourage Islanders to take the following precautions:

• Always verify requests for money by contacting the person directly using a known and trusted phone number. 
• Be cautious of urgent requests involving money, especially when accompanied by pressure or secrecy. 
• Never rely solely on text messages or caller ID information as proof of identity. 
• Speak with another trusted family member or friend before sending large sums of money. 
• If something feels suspicious, take time to verify before acting.

Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of fraud is encouraged to contact their local police service immediately and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.