Halifax Seniors Targeted in Alleged ‘Family Arrest’ Phone Scam Linked to Montreal Man

Section 1: What Happened – Key Safety Facts

Halifax Regional Police (HRP) have laid multiple fraud-related charges against a 53-year-old man from Montreal following an investigation into a telephone scam that targeted residents across the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). The incidents, reported in November 2024 and again in January 2025, involved callers pretending to be a family member who had just been arrested, followed by another person claiming to be from the legal system and demanding money for the loved one’s “release.”

The accused has been identified as Amcet Ricaldy‑Solorzano, 53, of Montreal. Police allege he was involved in a series of coordinated frauds where victims were pressured to provide significant sums of money, with some incidents reportedly involving amounts over $5,000. HRP investigators say they later determined that the November 2024 and January 2025 reports involved the same suspect. As of the latest available information, he is already serving a sentence in Ontario for similar offences and is expected to appear in Halifax provincial court at a later date.

The current charges include:

• Fraud over $5,000 (7 counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (7 counts)
• Fraud under $5,000 (1 count)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (1 count)
• Participating in a criminal organization (1 count)

According to police, the investigation is ongoing and additional complainants are possible. No updated court outcomes or new arrests beyond these charges have been reported in open sources at the time of this briefing.

Section 2: Community Context & Social Sentiment

This case fits a pattern of so‑called “grandparent” or “family emergency” scams that have been increasingly reported in the region. In a November 20, 2024 public appeal, Halifax Regional Police asked for help identifying a suspect in at least five similar scams targeting seniors, where a person would call claiming to be a relative in custody, followed by another caller impersonating a legal official. In several of those incidents, money was reportedly collected in person from victims’ homes.

Online reaction from the Halifax community, including local comment threads and social media, reflects a mix of concern and caution. Residents express particular worry about older adults living alone, who may be more vulnerable to urgent, emotionally charged phone calls. The sentiment is less about anger and more about vigilance, with users urging neighbours to warn elderly family members, verify any claims of an arrest by contacting relatives directly, and to be skeptical of anyone who demands immediate payment through cash, couriers, or untraceable methods.

From a broader safety perspective, HRM is not identified in available data as a hotspot for violent crime connected to this case; these are non‑violent but financially and emotionally harmful offences. Because the crimes are phone‑based, they are geographically diffuse, affecting households across the municipality rather than a particular street or neighbourhood. The main risk highlighted here is fraud targeting trust and family ties, not physical safety in public spaces.

Police and community advocates continue to emphasize several preventative steps for residents:

• Be wary of any unexpected call claiming a loved one has been arrested or is in immediate trouble.
• Do not provide or confirm personal, banking, or social insurance information over the phone.
• Independently contact the alleged family member or a known, official number for police/courts to verify the claim.
• If in doubt, hang up and call a trusted friend, relative, or local police non‑emergency line for guidance.

Section 3: How This Fits into Larger Fraud Trends

The charges against Ricaldy‑Solorzano appear to be part of a broader pattern of complex frauds seen across multiple provinces. Open‑source reporting shows that impersonation and “fake authority” scams have surged in recent years, often involving loosely organized groups rather than single actors.

For example, the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) in Quebec reported a roughly 30% rise in wrongdoing reports for the 2024–2025 period (575 reports versus about 450 the previous year). Those figures cover a spectrum of financial crimes, including fraud schemes where suspects pose as officials or trusted representatives. In that same period, UPAC recorded over 130 charges and a similar number of convictions, indicating that investigators are increasingly confronting structured, multi‑incident fraud operations rather than one‑off scams.

In a related trend, Quebec City police (SPVQ) opened nearly 300 investigations into “fake representative” frauds since early 2025, where individuals pose as law enforcement or institutional staff. That pattern closely mirrors the “family member arrested” tactic seen in Halifax: scammers manufacture urgency, claim to be police or legal professionals, and then demand large sums under the guise of bail, fines, or legal fees.

Within Halifax specifically, HRP’s November 2024 public appeal referenced at least five similar fraud incidents targeting seniors, suggesting that the local community is experiencing the same national trend of impersonation‑based scams. While precise, up‑to‑date HRM‑level fraud statistics are limited in open sources, these incidents line up with national enforcement warnings that phone‑based and online fraud are among the fastest‑growing categories of reported crime.

From a community safety standpoint, this case reinforces several key messages:

• Economic crimes can cross provincial boundaries, with suspects allegedly operating or impacting victims in multiple jurisdictions such as Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario.
• Organized or repeat fraud offenders may remain active even while facing charges elsewhere, making ongoing public education vital.
• Early reporting by victims and families gives investigators more opportunities to connect separate files and identify patterns across incidents and provinces.

Police in Halifax state they believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Anyone who suspects they have been targeted or defrauded is encouraged to contact Halifax Regional Police or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Even if money was not ultimately sent, reports about suspicious calls can help investigators map out the scope of the scheme.

About This Report

This safety alert was generated by aggregating data from local authorities, community reports, and open-source intelligence. Our mission at Crime Canada is to provide citizens with localized safety data and context. We are not the original creators of the underlying news reports.

Primary Source: Information in this report was initially covered by Chris Halef for CityNews Halifax.

Additional Research & Context

• Background on HRP’s earlier appeal and similar “family member arrested” scams targeting seniors in HRM is available in a November 2024 report from CityNews Halifax: Halifax police ask for help identifying suspect in scam targeting seniors.
• Data on the rise in wrongdoing and fraud investigations handled by Quebec’s anti-corruption police can be found in this coverage of UPAC’s 2024–2025 statistics: Surge in reports of wrongdoing to Quebec anti-corruption police.
• For additional context on “fake representative” frauds and impersonation scams in Quebec, see CityNews Montreal’s reporting on new tactics used against residents: Quebec police warn of scammers posing as officers.