Woman who stole $70K in grandparent scam should get house arrest, lawyers argue

A Calgary woman who participated in a grandparent scam, stealing thousands of dollars from elderly victims, including three who were in their 90s, should get to serve her sentence at home, lawyers argued Friday.

Alana Love Duncan, 48, pleaded guilty in October to seven counts of fraud over $5,000 for crimes that took place over a four-week period in the summer of 2023.

At a sentencing hearing Friday, Duncan’s role was described by prosecutor Don Couturier as the “in-person courier” in a “sophisticated and predatory” scheme. Police have not charged the others involved in the scam.

In total, Duncan and her partners-in-crime stole $70,000 from the seven victims.