Fraud prevention awareness is increasingly important for older adults who may be vulnerable if pressed by hard-sell tactics or feel embarrassed when they realize they’ve been duped by a scammer. Fraud has continued to grow since the onset of the pandemic.
An estimated 12% of Canadians over age 60 fall prey to fraudsters and their schemes. That percentage is likely higher as only 5% of victims file reports, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Read more.
Through both education and awareness, we can reassure older persons that they are not alone and, if fooled by these very skilled criminals, their money can often be recovered. Check back over the next month for information to help educate your communities about preventing fraud and protecting themselves. In the meantime, start with resources from past years to kick off Fraud Prevention Month and get the conversation started.
CRNs: Here are two topics or social media posts to get you started:
Fact: The top three scams currently being reported are romance scams, grandparent scams and new variations of tech support scams. #FraudPreventionMonth
Fact: In the month of January 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 6,610 reports of fraud amounting to $43.5 million dollars. #FraudPreventionMonth
