'Grandson Needs Bail': Edmonton Man Now Accused of Defrauding Four Winnipeg Seniors in Their 80s

Published Oct. 9, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

The phone rings, and the voice on the line says it's your grandson. He's been arrested. He needs bail money, and he needs it now. Then a stranger comes to your door to pick it up. Winnipeg police say that's how four people in their 80s lost cash, cards, coins and jewelry in August, and they've charged one man in all four cases.

Daniel Edward Warren, 29, of Edmonton, Alberta, was re-arrested on Oct. 5, 2026, at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and charged with fraud over $5,000 and unauthorized use of a credit card after a fourth senior came forward, the Winnipeg Police Service said in an Oct. 8 news release [1]. He had already been charged in connection with three other victims who police say lost more than $37,000 [2].

Important: These are allegations. Warren has not been convicted of any offence and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. As CityNews noted, "The charges against Warren have not been tested in court" [5].

How the scam worked, according to police

Winnipeg police described the same pattern in each case [1][2]:

1. The call. Someone phoned a person in their 80s, pretending to be their grandson.
2. The emergency. The caller said the grandson had been arrested and needed money for bail.
3. The pickup. After the victim agreed to pay, a man came to the home to collect, sometimes repeatedly.
4. Coming back for more. Police say one victim was visited four times between Aug. 17 and Aug. 22, handing over cash as well as gold and silver coins. Another had a man come to the residence twice. The fourth victim, called Aug. 17 and 18, had a man come "several times" to pick up money, credit cards and jewelry worth more than $14,000 in total.

In each case there was no arrest and no grandson in trouble. Police say the scheme unraveled when one victim checked with family members, learned the story was false, and called police. Officers found a man matching the suspect's description in a vehicle nearby and took him into custody; police say a search of the vehicle turned up evidence linked to all three of the original victims [2]. On Aug. 23, investigators executed a search warrant on a vehicle, seizing electronics, jewelry and gift cards, which police say linked Warren to the recent frauds [1].

CBC News reported that police allege Warren travelled to Manitoba from Alberta, and that the four seniors' combined losses exceed $50,000 [3].

The person charged

Daniel Edward Warren, 29, of Edmonton, faces the following charges in the fraud investigation, according to the Winnipeg Police Service [1][2]:

• First set (announced Sept. 29, 2026): fraud over $5,000; fraud under $5,000 (two counts); possession of a scheduled substance (methamphetamine); possession of a scheduled substance (fentanyl).
• Second set (laid Oct. 5, 2026): fraud over $5,000; unauthorized use of a credit card.

He remains in custody, police said [1][4]. Police have also laid separate, unrelated charges against him arising from a different Winnipeg Police Service investigation; those allegations are not part of the fraud case and are not described here [2].

We did not find a court date or a plea in the sources reviewed. Police have not said whether anyone else, such as a caller, is suspected of taking part.

Red flags of a grandparent scam

• A grandchild, or someone speaking for one, says they've been arrested or hurt and need money right away.
• "Don't tell Mom and Dad." The FTC says scammers in fake-emergency calls often say it's urgent and ask you to keep it secret [6].
• A courier, "bail bondsman" or "lawyer" offers to come to your home to collect cash, cards or valuables. Real bail is not collected at a grandparent's front door.
• Requests for cash, gift cards, coins, jewelry or bank cards, rather than a payment you can trace or reverse.
• A voice that sounds right. The FTC warns that some scammers use AI to clone a loved one's voice from a short audio clip [6].
• Repeat visits. Once a victim pays, scammers often come back with a new reason for more money.

What to do if you get the call

1. Slow down and hang up. The FTC advises resisting the pressure: "Hang up — or tell the person you'll call them right back" [6].
2. Call your grandchild or another family member directly using a number you already have. In this case, a victim's call to family exposed the scam [2].
3. Ask a question only the real person would know.
4. Never hand money or cards to someone who comes to the door. If a courier is on the way, call police.
5. Report it. In Winnipeg, police ask victims to report online and say people who believe they were targeted by a grandparent or emergency scam can contact the Financial Crime Unit at 204-986-6231 [2]. Elsewhere in Canada, you can also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre [7]. In the U.S., report to local police and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
6. If you gave a credit or bank card, call the card issuer immediately to cancel it.

Case status (as of Oct. 9, 2026)

Defendant	Court / agency	Status as of Oct. 9, 2026	Source
Daniel Edward Warren, 29, Edmonton, Alta.	Manitoba (Winnipeg Police Service charges)	Charged: fraud over $5,000 (two counts in total), fraud under $5,000 (two counts), unauthorized use of a credit card, and two drug possession counts; in custody; not convicted; no court date found	[1], [2], [3], [4]

Warren is presumed innocent. Statuses can change.

Sources

1. Winnipeg Police Service, "Man re-arrested in grandparent scam: E26-28870," news release, Oct. 8, 2026. https://www.winnipeg.ca/police/community/news-releases/2026-10-08-man-re-arrested-grandparent-scam-e26-28870
2. Winnipeg Police Service, "Grandparent scam arrest – leads to additional sexual assault investigation: C26-208997 & R260049201," news release, Sept. 29, 2026. https://www.winnipeg.ca/police/community/news-releases/2026-09-29-grandparent-scam-arrest-leads-additional-sexual-assault-investigation-c26-208997-r260049201
3. "4th victim of Edmonton man's grandparent scam was swindled of $14K: Winnipeg police," CBC News, Oct. 8, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/edmonton-grandparent-scam-fourth-victim-9.7374691
4. "Accused grandparent scammer charged in another fraud," Winnipeg Free Press, Oct. 8, 2026. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/this-just-in/accused-grandparent-scammer-charged-in-another-fraud
5. News Staff, "Grandparent scam: Another Winnipeg senior comes forward, leading to additional charges against Edmonton man," CityNews Edmonton, Oct. 8, 2026. https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2026/10/08/grandparent-scam-another-winnipeg-senior/
6. Federal Trade Commission, "Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money," consumer advice, accessed Oct. 9, 2026. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scammers-use-fake-emergencies-steal-your-money
7. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, home page, accessed Oct. 9, 2026. https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

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