Trending scams targeting seniors Canada Revenue Agency Scam You are contacted by someone threatening arrest if you don’t pay overdue taxes. Computer Virus Scam You are contacted by someone who says you have a virus on your computer. The caller asks for remote access to your computer, then claims to have found a virus which they offer to remove for a fee. Grandma/Grandpa Scam You are contacted by someone claiming to be a relative in trouble who needs money right away. Immigration Scam You are contacted by someone threatening deportation if you don’t pay outstanding fees.
These organizations offer additional resources on how to avoid and prevent becoming a victim of fraud:
Fraud Prevention
for Seniors
• TransUnion Credit TransUnion.ca, 1-800-663-9980 • Equifax Equifax.ca, 1-888-202-4025 • Better Business Bureau bbb.org/edmonton, 1-800-232-7298 • Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre antifraudcentre.ca, 1-888-495-8501 • Competition Bureau of Canada competitionbureau.gc.ca, 1-800-348-5358 • Edmonton Police Service edmontonpolice.ca, 780-423-4567 • scam-detector.com
Inheritance Scam You are contacted by someone claiming to be a lawyer who says you have a relative from another country who has died and left you some money. It will cost you a fee to collect the inheritance.
You earned it,
you keep it!
Romance Scam You are befriended by someone online who promises love and companionship. They ask for money to relocate or visit to be near you. 2019
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Clues that you are being scammed
Avoid becoming a victim of fraud
• The phone call, email, text message, Facebook or other social media platform message, or letter is unsolicited: you did not ask them to contact you.
• Do not ever give personal or banking information to anyone you do not know and trust.
• The person asks you to send money to someone you don’t know. • The person asks you to send funds via a wire service such as Western Union or MoneyGram.
Why seniors are targeted
• The person asks you to purchase and send them gift cards or prepaid credit cards.
• Do not give personal or banking information over the internet. • Hang up the phone if someone you do not know or trust asks you for money, or threatens you with an arrest. Call your local police to verify these claims. • Do not respond to any unsolicited phone calls/messages, emails or letters from someone you do not know or trust.
Seniors may have one or more of the following characteristics:
• The person asks you to send funds via Bitcoin.
• Trusting
• The person asks for your personal information and/or banking information.
• Do not trust caller identification functions: a phone number can be altered to indicate it is a legitimate number when in fact it is not.
• The person is offering you something for free, but you must send them money first.
• Do not let anyone pressure you, bully you, or threaten you.
• Lack of knowledge about the subject • Access to funds (life savings) • Always willing to help others • Lack of technical know-how • Fear (of government, police) • Loneliness • Deteriorating mental awareness • Cognitive impairment • Dementia
• The person is pressuring you to act quickly, giving you no time to investigate. • The person is offering you a great deal of money for a limited time only.
• Check your credit rating periodically.
• Talk to a trusted family member or friend if you need help. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
What to do if you become a victim of fraud • Talk to a trusted family member or friend.
Legitimate businesses, banks and the government WILL NOT ask for money or personal information over the phone or by email!
• Call the police at 780-423-4567 (do not call 911 unless it is an emergency). • Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
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