In 2020, months after the world shut down for COVID-19, Madeline, an American senior who had worked as a nurse all her life, received a phone call that would change her life.
The call, originating from Montreal, was part of a grandparent scam network that targeted vulnerable seniors across North America. While the details of the call remain unclear, it was later revealed to be a scam that would see Madeline lose nearly all her savings.
According to her daughter, Janelle, Madeline was told she needed to withdraw thousands of dollars to invest in her son’s new business — a lie planted by the scammers. Madeline, trusting and kind-hearted, took the advice, going to the local bank and withdrawing almost all of her savings. Little did she know that the phone call had come from a group of scammers operating out of Montreal.
The scammers targeted seniors across the U.S. and Canada between 2019 and March 2021, with police arresting the alleged culprits by the time they had drained millions from unsuspecting victims. The group was led by David Anthony Di Rienzo, who, according to court documents, enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle funded by his fraudulent activities. He was said to own multiple high-end cars, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom, all while exploiting the elderly.
The psychological toll of these scams is as significant as the financial loss. For victims like Madeline, the emotional damage was severe. Despite her initial suspicions and having been previously warned about similar scams, Madeline’s trusting nature was manipulated by the scammer’s script, which often involved emotional manipulation. Giordano De Luca, one of the scammer’s operatives, was heard in a court transcript telling a victim, “I know I could trust you; that’s why I called you,” using their affection for their grandchild to convince them to send money for an urgent cause, such as bail.
Madeline was eventually stopped when a sorting centre noticed her attempted transfer of $28,000 to the scammers. The money was intercepted, but the emotional damage had already been done. Janelle recalls how her mother was embarrassed, asking her not to tell the rest of the family about the scam.
Madeline, who lived on a small pension, eventually had to move into an assisted living facility, using the funds she had nearly lost to pay for it. Despite her kindness, the scamsters took advantage of her, leaving her shaken in her final years.
The impact of these scams extends far beyond the financial loss, as seen in the case of Darlens Renard, who was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for his involvement in the fraud network. Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson noted the significant psychological damage inflicted on the victims, adding that the scammers had stolen more than just money — they took their victims’ peace of mind and their ability to enjoy their later years without fear or shame.
Madeline died in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of love and care. Her children, including Janelle, have vowed to fight back against those responsible. Janelle has said she will testify if called upon in court, hoping to bring justice to her mother’s case.
“Anyone who needed anything — she would help,” Janelle said, reflecting on her mother’s generous spirit. “I know this is what she would want.”
The fight against scams like this continues, with authorities hoping to bring an end to the networks that prey on the vulnerable.
