A 29-year-old Edmonton man is in custody facing fraud and sexual assault charges after Winnipeg police investigated scams targeting three adults in their 80s. Police said the victims received calls from someone pretending to be a grandson who had been arrested and needed bail money. The investigation began after police received multiple reports of seniors being scammed.

Between Aug. 17 and 22, the first victim agreed to pay after receiving multiple calls. A man went to the senior’s home four times to collect cash, as well as gold and silver coins. During that series of calls, a second person in their 80s received a similar call and agreed to pay; a man picked up money at that victim’s home.

A third adult in their 80s received similar calls between Aug. 20 and 21 and agreed to pay. A man visited that person’s home twice to collect money. The victim later checked with family, learned their grandson was not in jail and did not need bail money, and recognized the call as a scam. The victim called police.

Officers went to the area and found a man in a vehicle who matched the suspect’s description. He was taken into custody. Police said evidence in the vehicle linked him to all three victims. He faces multiple charges, including fraud over $5,000, two counts of fraud under $5,000, and possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

During the fraud investigation, police determined the man had travelled from Edmonton to Winnipeg with a female teenager. They said the pair had been staying at a short-term rental. The teenager told police she had been sexually assaulted while staying with the man at the rental property and had no transportation to return to Edmonton on her own. She has since returned home.

On Aug. 23, Winnipeg Police’s Sex Crimes unit attended the Winnipeg Remand Centre, where the man was being held. He was arrested on a warrant for sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon and sexual interference. He remains in custody.

Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton.