In the last blog we discussed the Grandparent/Emergency scam and how to keep yourself safe from this con. Unfortunately, this scam is just a snowflake in a mountain of ice when it comes to all fraudulent activity. However, if we follow the general rules below, we can likely dodge many, if not all, attempts by fraudsters. Let’s exam these guidelines together:
Tips to protect yourself:
• Don’t be afraid to say ‘no.’
• Screen your calls and either hang up or let it go to voicemail. Scammers usually don’t leave messages.
• Register for Call Control. Depending on your phone provider (i.e., Telus, Rogers, Bell) you can ask for Call Control: a free optional feature that automatically screens callers and prevents them from bothering you.
• NEVER give your personal information or banking information over the phone to an unsolicited caller.
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Families should consider devising a code word that seniors can use to determine if the scammer is really a loved one.
• Sometimes scammers will have your personal information, so asking the scammer about information only your family would know is not a good way
to deal with a scammer. It also is the way scammers can find more about you.
• If the person on the line is offering simple solutions to complex problems, it is probably untrue (send money and all these problems will simply disappear, etc.).
• Delete all unsolicited text messages and never click on any links from unknown sources.
What to do if you’ve been a victim of fraud:
- Collect your thoughts:
- Stay calm and gather all information about the fraud
- Report the incident:
- Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501 or through their online Fraud Reporting system.
- Contact the police:
- Report the incident to your local police department to create an incident report. This helps the police keep track of the current scams and increase the chances of apprehending these fraudsters.
- Contact your financial institutions:
- Your financial institution can place flags on all your accounts.
- Change all your passwords.
Within this topic, it is easy to feel discouraged as there are so many scams out there, and I only had space to highlight one of those. But if we all work together, help each other raise awareness and encourage our elderly loved ones to take these precautionary steps, I believe we can make a difference in preventing fraudsters from getting the upper hand. In the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
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