On November 28, 2023, the Medicine Hat Police Service received multiple reports of a “Grandparent Scam” operating in our community.

In this scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from a con artist pretending to be their grandchildren. The caller will sometime say that they are in trouble, usually a car accident, returning from a foreign country, or even in jail and need money immediately.

As a result of these reports, the MHPS Criminal Investigation Section and the Patrol Section, identified and arrested Ashley Gackle, 46-years-old, from Medicine Hat, AB. Gackle was charged with the following;

• Theft Over $5000 x 2
• Fraud Over $5000 x 2
• Breach of Release Order
• Breach of Conditional Sentence Order

Gackle was held for a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and remanded into custody pending his next court appearance scheduled for November 30, 2023.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone who was impacted by this scam is asked to contact the MHPS by calling 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421