Sadly I hear that fraud and scams targeting seniors are on the rise.
In fact, fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians, according to Government of Canada statistics. Though people of all ages can be victims of fraud, older people get targeted more than others. Unfortunately, seniors who are impacted the most by scams and fraud are those who are frail, from ethnocultural communities, or seniors living on low incomes.
In Canada in 2024, there were 49,432 reports of fraud, 34,621 victims of fraud and $638 million lost to fraud. The West Vancouver Police Department reported that there are six common scams currently targeting seniors. These include the grandparent scam, romance scam, identity theft, email/text scam, telephone scam and tech support scam.
A favourite scam for targeting the lonely (and many seniors fit this category) involves the romance scam. Through phone calls, emails or texting, the scammer will ultimately get someone to give them money. Another favourite is the grandparent scam, which involves the impersonation of a grandnephew, grandchild or grandniece who pressures you to give or send money to the impersonators because they claim that they have been arrested or are in some other trouble. It might be difficult, but say no and hang up, then check the whereabouts of your family member.
Personally, I have been asked to contact a scammer purporting to be an official from Canadian Revenue Agency requiring me to contact them about a payment for my taxes. Very disconcerting – we all want to be good citizens and pay what we owe. But the CRA will not call you and use aggressive or threatening language and demand or put pressure on you for immediate payment.
New scams and fraud schemes are cropping up, including phone calls or internet phishing attempts to get your social insurance number, drivers license, banking and credit card information. These schemes are usually meant to steal your identity or passwords to your computer information.
You need to be cautious when receiving emails or text messages that appear to be from a financial institution asking for personal or financial information. Financial
institutions will never ask for personal information, login credentials or account information by email or text message. If you receive unsolicited or suspicious emails or text messages from a financial institution, do not click on the links or attachments.
The best way to combat fraudsters is through prevention and awareness for yourselves and others. But, protecting yourself is not always easy without access to information which is clear and easy to understand.
In a recent project supported by Lionsview Seniors Planning Society and funded through New Horizons for Seniors, a consultant created brochures, rack cards and a workshop to provide information to seniors on the North Shore. These resources can be obtained by phoning the office at 604-988-7115, extension 4114.
A few more pieces of advice. Always go with your gut – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t ever be afraid to hang up. Ask someone you trust if something doesn’t seem right. Know that requests of payment via gift cards, wire transfers or crypto currency are often signs of a scam. Always verify the legitimacy of the caller by hanging up and calling the official number of the organization in question.
Stay safe from fraud and scams.
Margaret Coates is the co-ordinator of Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society. She has lived on the North Shore for 55 years and has worked for and with seniors for thirty of those years. Ideas for future columns are welcome. Email [email protected].
