Two Ontario women have been sentenced to house arrest for their involvement in a grandparent scam that defrauded nine elderly Manitoba victims of nearly $90,000.
Gabriel Edith Marie Paradis, 27, from Wallaceburg, Ontario, received a year-long conditional sentence in a Winnipeg courtroom. Her co-accused, Vanessa Fatima Alves Dasilva, 20, from North York, Toronto, was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest followed by a year of unsupervised probation. Both women pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges.
The scheme involved an unknown man calling elderly victims, pretending to be their grandson who had been arrested and needed money for bail. Paradis and Dasilva acted as “money mules,” collecting the cash from the victims’ homes. In one instance, a victim withdrew $9,000 in cash, which Paradis later picked up.
Crown attorney Peter Edgett explained that the scam relied on secrecy, with victims instructed not to inform anyone. This pressure led the elderly victims to act quickly, often before realizing they had been deceived.
Though the seniors recovered most of their money, the emotional toll was significant. Many victims were left embarrassed and distraught after realizing they had fallen for the scam. One retired nurse expressed that the incident shattered her trust, leaving her emotionally shaken.
During sentencing, both women were described as vulnerable individuals who became involved in the scam due to financial desperation. Paradis, who struggled with addiction, apologized for her actions, expressing a desire to seek treatment. Dasilva, who had a traumatic childhood and mental health challenges, tearfully expressed remorse, acknowledging the impact her actions had on the victims.
The mastermind behind the scam remains unidentified, and police are continuing their investigation.
