St. Thomas, ON – Wednesday May 6th 2026
The St. Thomas Police Service is reminding residents to use caution following two recent fraud incidents involving individuals posing as family members and police officers in attempts to obtain money from residents through urgent requests.
In the first incident reported on Monday, police were contacted after a resident received a phone call from an unknown individual claiming to be a family member in custody who required money for release. The caller directed the resident to send nearly $10,000 via e-transfer to an email address provided by a second individual posing as a police officer.
The resident became suspicious shortly after the transfer and contacted their bank, who were able to cancel the transaction before any financial loss occurred.
In a second incident reported Tuesday, a St. Thomas resident received a phone call from a male claiming that their nephew had been arrested and required $6,000 to be released from custody.
The resident attended a local bank and withdrew the money before a male attended her residence and collected the cash in person. Shortly afterward, the resident received another phone call claiming additional money was needed after “court fees” had increased.
After speaking with a friend, the resident contacted their nephew directly and realized the calls were fraudulent.
The suspect is described as:
• White male
• Approximately 5’7”
• Wearing plain clothes
• Driving a silver vehicle
Police are reminding the public that legitimate police agencies and courts do not request bail money, fines, or release payments through e-transfers, cash pickups, gift cards, or urgent payment demands over the phone.
Residents are encouraged to:
• Pause before responding to urgent requests involving money
• Contact the family member directly using a trusted phone number
• Speak with a trusted friend or family member before sending funds
• Avoid providing banking information to unknown individuals
• Contact police if something feels suspicious or unusual
These types of frauds often rely on creating a sense of urgency in order to pressure individuals into acting quickly before information can be verified.
Anyone with information related to these incidents is asked to contact the St. Thomas Police Service.