Arming our seniors against the con man

Sometimes old age beats youth hands down.

Think about it. More money, more free time, a more giving outlook. Much less ego.

Now think again.

What if those advantages were, in fact, somtimes liabilities?

You might shake your head, pray you never get old and wonder how that can be.

Well the answer is this: the elderly present rich pickings for con men. Statistics show more than 6,000 seniors become fraud victims each year in Alberta. But the real number is probably much higher because many people are too embarrassed to report they have been defrauded.

“Seniors are an incredibly vulnerable target of fraud,” Cpl. Christine Collins, from Edmonton’s RCMP “K” Division, told the Barrhead and District Rural Crime Watch Association’s annual general meeting on March 15.

“Seniors tend to have more financial resources and are very trusting and eager to help those in need.”

“The general rule is that if something sounds too good to be true it usually is,” she added.

In recognition of March being Fraud Prevention Month, Collins gave a presentation on the Wise Owl Program, which is aimed at teaching seniors how to protect themselves against fraud that specifically targets them. The program produces and distributes education material, which was available at the meeting at Barrhead’s Seniors Drop In Centre.

Collins outlined many types of fraud, including: telemarketing, identify theft, internet and email scams, Nigerian/West African scams, Jamaican lottery, bogus bank inspection, and credit and debit card fraud.

She asked the audience whether they had heard of the so-called “grandparent scam.”

Under it, a grandparent receives a phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild in distress and asking the grandparent to wire money. Often the money goes to a con artist.

Seniors should question the caller, without giving information in return. They should also phone other family members to confirm the whereabouts of the relative supposedly in trouble.

“People should never give out personal information over the phone and never be afraid to hang up,” said Collins.

Collins told seniors to be aware of emails and calls about alleged lottery wins. There were several factors to consider which should raise a red flag: you can’t win if you never entered; you cannot enter a lottery from a different country; in Canada, you will never have to pay fees or taxes for prizes; if you don’t recognize the number, either don’t answer or find out who’s calling; and if you don’t know the person hang up.

Charity scams were also common, said Collins, particularly after a natural disaster. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, for instance, fake donation websites were set up.

“Fraudsters capitalize on natural disasters,” said Collins, saying people should ask direct and specific questions about the charity.

One of the fastest growing crimes in Canada, said Collins, was identity theft. One in 15 Canadians has been victimized.

It occurs when someone steals personal information with the aim of gaining access to your finances, making purchases and incurring debts, or committing crimes in your name.

Those who suspect a scam should contact the local police service, report fraud online through www.recol.ca or contact the Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.phonebusters.com.

The presentation also touched on Pyramid and Ponzi schemes, which invite you to send money to someone at the top of a list and sign up “x” number of other participants, who will supposedly send funds to you. Ponzi schemes also have a fake investment element.

“Remember those at the bottom will always lose, while those at the top will win,” said Collins.

Collins also drew attention to credit card and debit card fraud.

Skimming, the process by which criminals access the information contained on a credit or debit card’s magnetic strip, occurred most often at restaurants and fast food outlets, gas stations, retail stores, convenience stores, liquor stores and grocery stores.

Finally, Collins warned of elder abuse, which means physical, emotional, psychological, verbal and monetary abuse. Seniors were urged to call the police if they suspected abuse.

The AGM followed a potluck supper. President Myrtle Wegner started by recognizing three rural crime watch provincial poster contest winners: Hannah Raju (Grade 9, first place), Neerlandia Public Christian School; Riley Schaffrick (Grade 3, first place), Barrhead Elementary School; and Eryn Amos (Grade 7, second place), Barrhead Composite High School.

Wegner presented them with rural crime watch pins.