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A Montreal man is facing charges in connection with an alleged "granny scam" phone call to an 82-year-old California man.

Ottawa police say the California man got a phone call from someone identifying himself as a lawyer, who told him his grandson was in trouble in Ottawa.

Someone pretending to be the grandson then got on the line and told the man he had been in an accident and needed $6,500 to fix his car and come home.

The caller gave the grandfather the address of a hotel in Ottawa and told him to send the money there by courier.

Police say a man was arrested on Tuesday when he went to the hotel and told the clerk he was expecting a package.

Darryl Thompson, 32, is charged with fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of identity documents and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He's to appear in court on Oct. 17.

Police are reminding people to be wary of receiving "loved ones in trouble" telephone calls, and before sending any money, to check on the credibility of the information.

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