Seniors are convenient targets for telephone fraud
“You have one new voice message…I am calling from the Canadian Revenue Service. A legal case has been filed against you”, says the hollow sounding message from a distant land.
Really? He was kind enough wish me “good luck.”
A quick search on my iPad and the case was cracked. It seems that this is the latest frequent flyer in the World of Scams.
The sad reality is that some people will fall prey and too often they are seniors. A call to mom reveals that this guy has been making his rounds.
Fortunately, she called her son before giving away her personal information, but not before she was reduced to tears and scared out of her skin.
Why do seniors fall victim to fraud?
Are older people easier to fool?
Do seniors more easily hand over their money?
Perhaps they are too polite to hang up and get roped in?
The truth is that fraudsters are good at their job. They can fool the best of us, regardless of age. They target our fears and take advantage of our honesty. Hard-working people don’t want to think they are in trouble with the government.
Anyone can fall victim to these smooth operators simply by picking up the phone. For a retired person home alone on a cold winter day, the ringing of the telephone is a welcome sound. Seniors are a convenient group simply because many are home and too frequently alone.
The National Seniors Council of Canada describes social isolation as having a major impact on quality of life and well-being for seniors. This is important because social isolation is a leading risk factor for elder abuse, including financial abuse. It increases the risk of depression and impacts self-esteem and confidence.
The council reports that approximately 50 per cent of people over the age of 80 feel lonely. Any social contact can feel good when you are lonely, and can make the truth difficult to spot.
New scams are being cooked up all the time, replacing the old “help me Grandma, I’m in a faraway land, I’ve just been arrested and I need you to wire me money right away” – known as the Grandparent Scam.
Sometimes the fraudsters give themselves away – like when the so-called-CRA representative started yelling “Give me your credit card number RIGHT NOW!”
The charmer can be a difficult one to spot. “As a thank-you for your service, we would like to send you a gift. We will need your credit card to cover the shipping costs.” And wham – you are signed up for a lifetime supply of overpriced anti-aging skin cream.
Technology is making it easier for fraud incubators across the globe to reach into our local communities.
Internet information can easily direct scammers to people and populations.
If you find yourself involved in what seems like a scam, hang up and call Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477). Honest businesses will never pressure you to give personal information over the telephone. Take the information, call a friend or family member, and do some homework.
Don’t be ashamed. These folks are good at what they do. By speaking up you can help yourself and raise awareness that will make our community safer for all.
Susan Steels, MSW, RSW is a member of The Prevention of Elder Abuse Committee of York Region and Clinical Leader for Geriatric Outreach at Southlake Regional Health Centre.