The Caledon and Dufferin detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning residents in Caledon and Dufferin County — including Grand Valley, Ontario — after investigating more than 45 extortion cases dating back to December 2023.
Police say the scams typically involve callers or texters demanding large sums of money. Investigators report that, in some cases, when demands are not met the intimidation has escalated from digital messages to physical attacks, including shootings at homes and businesses.
Caledon Mayor Annette Groves has publicly called for federal assistance to help address the rising wave of extortion and related violence. Grand Valley Mayor Steve Soloman has warned that the crimes are spreading into smaller, rural communities and is monitoring the situation.
The RCMP’s national coordination and support team — working with provincial task forces and local police, including the OPP — is assisting investigations to try to trace where threatening calls and messages originate. Police are urging residents to report suspicious activity immediately, not to reply to threatening messages or calls, to block originating numbers, and not to pay extortionists.
Community groups such as What’s The Fix Caledon (WTFC2015) are helping to keep residents informed about safety steps and local developments. Authorities say public awareness and neighbours watching out for one another can help reduce the number of people targeted.
