Canadian woman arrested, accused of scamming grandparents in East Tennessee

LOUDON, Tenn. (WATE) — A Canadian woman was arrested in connection with a scam targeting grandparents according to the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office. They are now looking for additional victims.

LCSO shared that Valerie Soki Hangi, from Quebec Canada, was arrested on Thursday, October 17. She is accused of being involved in a scheme that stole at least $60,000 in cash from three different victims in Loudon and Monroe Counties.

According to the sheriff’s office, the scam works like this: the caller pretends to be the victim’s grandchild and claims they have been arrested and need money for bail. To make the story more convincing, they use the nickname that the grandchild typically goes by. Then, the scammer puts someone on the phone who claims to be the grandchild’s “attorney,” providing details about the supposed arrest. After convincing the victim, they instruct them to withdraw money and arrange for a courier to pick it up.

LCSO said Hangi was identified as the courier by the victims in the case.

According to a release from LCSO, she is thought to have flown into Nashville on Monday, October 14, and started collecting cash as early as Tuesday. She was arrested during a traffic stop and LCSO believes she was on her way to pick up more money. The sheriff’s office added that a large sum of money consistent with the amounts and denominations scammed from the victims was found inside her car.

More victims are believed to have been targeted in this scam and LCSO is asking anyone who believes they were scammed by Hangi or knows someone who was to call their non-emergency dispatch at 865-458-9081

Loudon County Sheriff Jimmy Davis expressed gratitude to various law enforcement agencies who helped with the case, including the 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, and US Customs and Border Protection. As the investigation continues, additional local, state and federal agencies are expected to be involved.

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