FRAUDS AND SENIORSFRAUDS AND SENIORS
TORONTO POLICE SERVICETORONTO POLICE SERVICE
33 Division Crime Prevention33 Division Crime Prevention

Grandparent Scam.mp4

Fraud StatsFraud Stats
(Canadian Anti-Fraud(Canadian Anti-Fraud
Centre)Centre)
Mass Marketing Fraud/ Id TheftMass Marketing Fraud/ Id Theft
Identity theft – 20,611,000 victims atIdentity theft – 20,611,000 victims at
dollar loss of 10,484,490.50dollar loss of 10,484,490.50
1 in 6 Canadians affected1 in 6 Canadians affected

Who are these fraudsters?Who are these fraudsters?
 They can be male or femaleThey can be male or female
 All ages, nationalitiesAll ages, nationalities
 Friendly, helpful and trustworthyFriendly, helpful and trustworthy
 Persistent, persuasivePersistent, persuasive
 Non-violentNon-violent

How fraudsters contact theirHow fraudsters contact their
victimsvictims??
 Over the telephoneOver the telephone
 Over the internetOver the internet
 By mailBy mail
 In personIn person
With massive increase in technologyWith massive increase in technology
and assistance with social media, weand assistance with social media, we
have more victimshave more victims

Why are seniors targeted?Why are seniors targeted?
 They have savingsThey have savings
 They are usually trusting peopleThey are usually trusting people
 They often live aloneThey often live alone
 They want to be independentThey want to be independent
 They feel embarrassed if connedThey feel embarrassed if conned
 More unlikely to reportMore unlikely to report

TOP SCAMS OF 2015TOP SCAMS OF 2015
 IDENTITY THEFTIDENTITY THEFT
 EMERGENCY (GrandparentEMERGENCY (Grandparent
Scam)Scam)
 LOTTERY / SWEEPSTAKELOTTERY / SWEEPSTAKE
FRAUDFRAUD
 BANK INSPECTOR/CREDITBANK INSPECTOR/CREDIT
CARD SCAMSCARD SCAMS

IDENTITY THEFTIDENTITY THEFT
Fastest growing North American CrimeFastest growing North American Crime
(increased by modern technology)(increased by modern technology)
Technological and non technologicalTechnological and non technological

Non TechnologicalNon Technological
 DUMPSTER DIVINGDUMPSTER DIVING -Identification-Identification
fraudsters will rummage through yourfraudsters will rummage through your
trash or recycling bintrash or recycling bin
 Mail TheftMail Theft
 Social engineering (making you thinkSocial engineering (making you think
something is wrong, break intosomething is wrong, break into
network or calling with an issuenetwork or calling with an issue
 Shoulder SurfingShoulder Surfing
 Stealing Personal itemsStealing Personal items

TechnologicalTechnological
Debit/Credit Card theftDebit/Credit Card theft
Skimming (Skimming (The skimmer is a small
device that scans a credit card and
stores the information contained in the
magnetic strip.
1.ATM
2.Restaurants
3.Gas Pumps

PhishingPhishing
Email/telephone posing as reputableEmail/telephone posing as reputable
companiescompanies
PaypalPaypal
EbayEbay
BanksBanks
CharitiesCharities
Specifically targets “A” victimSpecifically targets “A” victim

PharmingPharming
 Luring on the computer to go toLuring on the computer to go to
different website (fake)different website (fake)
 Done in large numbers (not generallyDone in large numbers (not generally
victim specific)victim specific)

VishingVishing
 Same as Phishing but over theSame as Phishing but over the
telephone (voice)telephone (voice)

Grandparent ScamGrandparent Scam
(emergency)(emergency)
 Calls claiming to be grandchild…asksCalls claiming to be grandchild…asks
““do you know who this is”do you know who this is”
 Claims to have been inClaims to have been in
accident/emergencyaccident/emergency
 Generally a wire transfer westernGenerally a wire transfer western
union/money gramunion/money gram
Scammers obtain #’s from telephoneScammers obtain #’s from telephone
listings, social network siteslistings, social network sites

Lottery ScamLottery Scam
You’ve Won!!!You’ve Won!!!
You received notification that you areYou received notification that you are
one of the “lucky” cash prize winners.one of the “lucky” cash prize winners.
In order to collect your winnings youIn order to collect your winnings you
must complete a form with your personalmust complete a form with your personal
information and send a processing feeinformation and send a processing fee
plus shipping and handling.plus shipping and handling.

Bank InspectorBank Inspector
scamsscams
 A caller claims to be an inspector official from yourA caller claims to be an inspector official from your
bank saying an audit is being done on yourbank saying an audit is being done on your
account and we need your personal informationaccount and we need your personal information
 Asks for bank account numbers, credit cardAsks for bank account numbers, credit card
information and passwordsinformation and passwords
 You can also receive an e-mail supposedly fromYou can also receive an e-mail supposedly from
your bank asking you to click on a link to the bankyour bank asking you to click on a link to the bank
site to verify personal information, including yoursite to verify personal information, including your
bank account numbers and passwords.bank account numbers and passwords.

Door-to-Door salesDoor-to-Door sales
andand
scamsscams
 They come to your home uninvitedThey come to your home uninvited
 Offering to renovate your house or sellOffering to renovate your house or sell
you a productyou a product
 The sale/deal is only today!The sale/deal is only today!
 Watch for deposits/paperworkWatch for deposits/paperwork
 Usually no credentials or suspiciousUsually no credentials or suspicious
looking oneslooking ones
 Not specific answers to questionsNot specific answers to questions

419 Scam419 Scam
 Letters coming from other countriesLetters coming from other countries
like Nigeria or West Africalike Nigeria or West Africa
 They will stress urgency/confidentialityThey will stress urgency/confidentiality
 Claim to be a doctor/corporate entityClaim to be a doctor/corporate entity
 Mention of governmentMention of government
 Very official sounding/spellingVery official sounding/spelling

Lottery &Lottery &
SweepstakeSweepstake
FraudFraud
You’ve WON!!!You’ve WON!!!
You received notification that you areYou received notification that you are
one of the “lucky” cash prize winners.one of the “lucky” cash prize winners.
In order to collect your winnings youIn order to collect your winnings you
must complete a form with your personalmust complete a form with your personal
information and send a processing feeinformation and send a processing fee
plus shipping and handling.plus shipping and handling.

Other ScamsOther Scams
 InvestmentInvestment
 Dating/RomanceDating/Romance
 Renovation/UtilityRenovation/Utility
 PyramidPyramid
 False charitiesFalse charities
 Mortgage fraudMortgage fraud

What To DoWhat To Do
 NEVER give out personal informationNEVER give out personal information
over phone or to anyone unknownover phone or to anyone unknown
 Don’t be pressured or make quickDon’t be pressured or make quick
decisionsdecisions
 Research organizations (BBB/on line)Research organizations (BBB/on line)
 Don’t click on links from unsolicitedDon’t click on links from unsolicited
emails/textsemails/texts
 Always take time to verify infoAlways take time to verify info

What To DoWhat To Do
 Learn about scamsLearn about scams
 Do regular credit searches ieDo regular credit searches ie
Equifax/TransUnionEquifax/TransUnion
 Contact Post office immediatelyContact Post office immediately
 Clear mail box out regularlyClear mail box out regularly
 Make sure to password protectMake sure to password protect
everything including Wi-Fieverything including Wi-Fi
 Change passwords oftenChange passwords often

What to doWhat to do
 Stop making major financial decisionsStop making major financial decisions
until accounts are secureuntil accounts are secure
 Stop all communication with scammerStop all communication with scammer
 Look at addresses/URL’s should readLook at addresses/URL’s should read
https//https//
 Install malware or spywareInstall malware or spyware
 Shield your pin alwaysShield your pin always
 Keep visual on credit/debit card inKeep visual on credit/debit card in
restaurants etcrestaurants etc

 Be aware of your surroundingsBe aware of your surroundings
especially if you are bumped orespecially if you are bumped or
someone is closesomeone is close
 Don’t use machines if broken lookingDon’t use machines if broken looking
or tampered withor tampered with
 REPORT!!!!!REPORT!!!!!

 Approximately 85% of victims foundApproximately 85% of victims found
out about the crime due to adverseout about the crime due to adverse
situation - denied credit orsituation - denied credit or
employment, notification by police oremployment, notification by police or
collection agencies, receipt of creditcollection agencies, receipt of credit
cards or bills never ordered, etc.cards or bills never ordered, etc.
 Only 15% found out through a positiveOnly 15% found out through a positive
actionaction

 The Canadian Anti-Fraud CentreThe Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
(Phonebusters) was established in(Phonebusters) was established in
January 1993 jointly operated by theJanuary 1993 jointly operated by the
RCMP, OPP and Competition BureauRCMP, OPP and Competition Bureau
Canada.Canada.
 The CAFC is a national call centreThe CAFC is a national call centre
where victims can report fraudwhere victims can report fraud
complaints.complaints.

Contact NumbersContact Numbers
 CAFC Toll-free:CAFC Toll-free: 1-888-495-8501
 Financial Consumer Agency Toll-free:Toll-free:
1-866-461-3222
 National Do Not Call List 1-866-580-
DNCL (3625)(3625)
 Equifax 1-800-465-7166
 TransUnion 1-877-525-3823