A Canadian man believed to be from Montreal has been sentenced to more than 15 years in U.S. federal prison for his role in a grandparent scam that targeted elderly victims. The scheme involved fake emergency calls, claims that relatives needed bail money, and cash collections from victims’ homes.

A Canadian-led grandparent scam has resulted in a lengthy U.S. prison sentence after elderly victims were defrauded of up to $3.5 million.

Stefano Zanetti, 44, believed to be from Montreal, was sentenced in May 2026 to 188 months in U.S. federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. As part of his plea, Zanetti accepted responsibility for losses between approximately $1.5 million and $3.5 million.

The scam followed a familiar and highly manipulative pattern. Fraudsters contacted elderly victims and claimed that a grandchild or other family member had been arrested or was in legal trouble. The victims were told money was urgently needed for bail or legal expenses.

In many grandparent scams, victims are asked to send funds electronically. In this case, U.S. prosecutors said members of the operation were sent to Pittsburgh in 2021 and 2022 to collect cash directly from victims at their homes. The money was then allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency or moved across the border to Canada.

The victims were largely located in Pittsburgh and other U.S. cities, but the operation had Canadian connections. A separate indictment in Vermont charged 25 Canadian nationals in connection with call centres that allegedly supported the scheme. Those charges have not been proven in court.

Authorities say the fraud relied on panic, secrecy, and emotional pressure. Victims were allegedly told not to contact relatives or other trusted people, creating a sense of urgency and isolation. That tactic is common in emergency scams because it prevents the victim from verifying whether the story is true.

U.S. officials said Zanetti and his co-conspirators caused serious financial and emotional harm to elderly victims and their families. In addition to the prison sentence, Zanetti was ordered to pay a US$35,000 fine and restitution of US$780,870.

The case also involved other alleged members of the network. Gareth West, who reportedly presented himself as a successful real estate developer, was arrested by the RCMP in Quebec in July 2025 on behalf of American investigators. He is among those facing charges related to wire fraud and money laundering. Those allegations remain before the courts.

Grandparent scams continue to be one of the most damaging forms of impersonation fraud because they exploit family trust. The caller may pose as a grandchild, lawyer, police officer, or bail representative. The victim is often told there has been an accident, arrest, or urgent legal problem and that immediate payment is required.

Canadian authorities regularly warn that real police, courts, and lawyers do not send couriers to collect cash from someone’s home, and they do not demand payment through cryptocurrency or gift cards. Families can reduce the risk by speaking with older relatives in advance, agreeing on a verification process, and encouraging them to hang up and call family members directly using known phone numbers.

The Zanetti case is a reminder that these scams are not isolated phone calls. They can involve organized networks, cross-border money movement, cryptocurrency laundering, and multiple people working together to pressure vulnerable victims.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.