by Tammy Adams and Susan Fisher
Scams have been around for years, but recently seniors are becoming increasingly targeted by scammers, and a new scheme making the rounds is particularly concerning. Recently, a senior I know got a phone call which seemed to be from his “oldest grandson, Mike.” The voice didn’t sound like Mike, but the caller said he was sick with a bad cold. This turned out to be a scam, and it’s a reminder of how tricky and convincing these fraudsters can be.
The scam started off sounding pretty harmless. The caller said he was Mike, the man’s grandson, and claimed he and a friend had been pulled over by the police, during their university reading week. According to the story, the police found cocaine in the car, and the officer told Mike’s grandfather he needed to help arrange a bail payment. The scammer, sounding urgent and believable, asked the senior to wire money immediately.
The scam was designed to panic the senior into acting quickly. Fortunately, this senior was cautious and started asking questions. Instead of just jumping into action, he calmly said, “I’ll just call your dad first.” That’s when the scammers hung up, realizing their scheme had been caught.
What made this scam especially convincing was the personal information the scammers had. They knew the grandson’s name and some details about his university life, making the story seem very real. This is why scams like this can be so successful - fraudsters know exactly how to manipulate people’s emotions, especially when they’re playing on family relationships and preying on seniors.
This is an excellent reminder of the risks of giving out personal information, over the phone or through email, especially when it wasn’t you who initiated the contact. Scammers will often pretend to be someone familiar or in a crisis, hoping you’ll let your guard down. Whether it’s a phone call, email, or text, it’s important to stay cautious and trust your gut.
If you get a call or email from someone claiming to be a family member in trouble, always take a moment to verify the story. Don’t rush into making any decisions, especially when money is involved. The best thing to do is hang up and call the person directly, using a trusted number or better yet, initiate a video call, if you can. You can also reach out to other family members to confirm what’s going on.
It’s also key, to never send money to someone who contacts you out of the blue, no matter how convincing the story sounds. Legitimate organizations - whether it’s the police, a financial institution, or anyone else - will never ask for money to be sent via wire transfer or in the form of gift cards. Be cautious of warning signs like urgency, secrecy, and their reluctance to share additional details. There are some seniors, whom I know, who have a “secret word” with their family members which is used to verify such situations.
Seniors should also be aware of common scams which ask for personal information, banking details, or money for emergencies like bail or medical costs. Scammers try to create a sense of urgency to get you to act before you can think things through.
The most important thing in protecting yourself from these types of scams is trusting your instincts. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to ask questions, hang up, or take the time to verify things. Always check with the right people, like family or trusted friends, before sharing any personal or financial information. If in doubt, you can always call the non-emergency line for the police to verify things and/or to report the situation. Doing so could help others not fall prey to similar scams.
By staying alert, learning about common scams, and never sending money to someone who contacts you first, you can keep yourself safe from falling victim to fraud. The safety and peace of mind of our seniors is incredibly important, and being vigilant is the key to protecting it.
Susan works for Silver Lights Senior Services, a family-owned and operated seniors’ homecare company, serving the City of Kawartha Lakes. Their services currently include: an Adult Day Program for Dementia, community PSW and companion support, and a short-stay seniors’ retreat on a beautiful 3-acre property in Lindsay. Find them on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website, at www.silverlightsseniorservices.com. To book services, call Tammy, at 705 308 1940, or to register for the Day Program, call Susan, at 705 308 7923.
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