Keeping Seniors From Scams #KnowTheSigns
March is Fraud Prevention Month and the busy tax season is a prime time for scam artists. Fraud has escalated to record levels in Canada. The technology that makes our lives better, also makes it easier for scammers to reach us with convincing stories that seem real. Contrary to public perceptions, it’s not seniors but young people ages 20-29 who are the most common victims of fraud. However, older adults suffer the greatest losses of money.
Seniors Outreach & Resource Centre is wanting to help people protect their nest egg. Please read about the prevalence of fraud and 4 strategies that you can take to safeguard your savings from scammers in this article from our Executive Director, Ian Gerbrandt.
We also want to share some helpful resources that we recommend for safeguarding your personal information and money from fraud. The resources include publications, video presentation, and radio podcast.
FIVE HELPFUL RESOURCES – FRAUD PREVENTION
- Seniors Fraud Prevention Toolkit – The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) collects and provides information on fraud and scams affecting Canadians. CAFC compiled a toolkit specifically designed for senior Canadians (60+) to raise public awareness and prevent victimization. It contains information about the most common scams and strategies to keep safe.
https://cnpea.ca/images/seniors_toolkit_-_en.pdf
- Scams to Avoid – People’s Law School is a leader in British Columbia for public education on legal matters. This publication covers 15 of the most common scams and helps readers to spot and guard against scams that try to trick you out of your money.
https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/publications/scams-avoid
- The Fraudster’s Playbook – The Alberta Securities Commission promotes investing as part of a healthy financial future, but have you ever been offered an investment ‘opportunity’ that you weren’t sure about? Check out their resource that can help you identify and avoid the 7 steps scam artists take and protect your hard-earned money.
https://checkfirst.ca/resources/fraudsters-playbook
- Frauds & Scam Prevention – The Dementia Society of Ottawa hosted and recorded this presentation with Mary Shkoury from Elderly Abuse Prevention Ontario. Explains the tactics used by scammers to take advantage of older adults. Case examples illustrate the types of scams prevalent in Canada and how seniors can know the signs and safeguard their savings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iFzn8OI6ds
- 8 Simple Things You Can Do To Protect Yourself From Getting Scammed – NPR Radio has a number of podcasts on fraud prevention for listening on your next walk or exercise session. While some of the references are American, the interviews are engaging and offer helpful advice on how to spot the red flags and proactively protect yourself.