Putting a Stop to Frauds and Scams Targeting Seniors
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
Release Date: 02/27/2025
A Friendly Voice: Just a phone call away
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
We all have a need for social connections, to talk to someone about our day, events in our lives, share stories or whatever is on our mind. Social connections, how we relate to and interact with others, are important to reduce social isolation and loneliness for all ages, but particularly for older adults as we age. In this Episode of Aging Vibrantly, we will talk with France Connor, Manager of 'A Friendly Voice', that provides a free call-in service for adults over 55 years old who live in Ontario or Atlantic Canada. When an older adult calls the toll free number at 1-855-892-9992 they...
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Building Bridges: Intergenerational Classrooms
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
We live in a society that is increasingly separating individuals into age-based groups, which can lead to limited interaction and the potential for negative stereotypes and discrimination, particularly towards older adults. So how can we best address this to build connections and relationships between age groups and generations. In this episode of Aging Vibrantly, host Raeann Rideout and co-host April Struthers, feature the University of Toronto’s Intergenerational Classroom, with guests Dr. Raza Mirza, professor and creator of the program, alongside with Florene Shuber a senior...
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Kindness is Contagious : Standing up Against Senior Bullying
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
In this episode of Aging Vibrantly, host Raeann Rideout and co-host Pauline Luening talk with Dr. Kirsten Madsen and Liza Franses about standing up against senior bullying and the development of We begin our interview with a brief background on the aim of the project, and evolution of the Toolkit, including the need and importance for the Toolkit, including the collection of data on the prevalence and nature of Senior to Senior bullying in Ontario, Canada that demonstrated seniors have experienced being bullied, engaged in bullying behaviours as well as witnessed bullying behaviours between...
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Preparing for Caregiving
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
Are you providing or receiving care? In this episode of Aging Vibrantly, we speak with Amy Coupal, CEO of Ontario Caregivers Organization (OCO). Podcast host, Raeann Rideout and co-host Tom Warner, learned about the amazing work the OCO conducts to support Ontario’s four million caregivers who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours. Our discussion led to understanding the current and future concerns and complexities, prospective caregivers are facing in Ontario and what may be needed support them, based on OCO’s recent Preparing...
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Transforming Care with a National Caregiver Strategy for Canada
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
We are excited to launch Season 2 of Aging Vibrantly with an inspiring leader who is committed to ‘making Canada the best place in the world to give and receive care! In this inaugural episode, host Raeann Rideout and co-host Pauline Luening talk with James Janeiro, Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Canadian Centre for Caregiver Excellence (CCCE). According to the CCCE, “Canada is facing a caregiving crisis that will only get worse without real action. A perfect storm is brewing, demand for care is growing, caregivers are aging, the number of available caregivers...
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Re-Release: Rebelling Against Ageism with Ashton Applewhite: Part 2
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
In Episode 2 of our Rebelling Against Ageism Series, host Raeann Rideout, is joined with co-host April Struthers, for a lively discussion on Ageism with our guest Ashton Applewhite, an internationally recognized expert on ageism and leader on healthy aging, author of . In part 2 of our interview, Ashton dives into how we internalize aging and explore the connection between ageism and elder abuse, tips for encouraging intergenerational conversations on aging and her advocacy work as co-founder the , and success stories of Ageism Campaigns, including Ageism Awareness Day, that are...
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Re-Release: Rebelling Against Ageism with Ashton Applewhite : Part 1
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
In this inaugural episode, host Raeann Rideout, is joined with co-host April Struthers, for a lively discussion on Ageism with our guest Ashton Applewhite, an internationally recognized expert on ageism and leader on healthy aging, author of , and co-founder of the Hub. In Part 1 of our Rebelling Against Ageism Series, Ashton imparts her insights on defining ageism, its prevalence, impacts and where it shows up in our lives from health, policy, and intergenerational dialogue. We learn to check our assumptions and do our own self reflection of internal ageism. Ashton informs us of the...
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Putting a Stop to Frauds and Scams Targeting Seniors
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
In this final episode of Season 1 of Aging Vibrantly, we are putting a stop to frauds and scams targeting seniors. Our host Raeann Rideout and co-host Mary Ennis, speak with Stephanie Senecal, the Senior Support Unit Coordinator from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, along with Karen Deredin and Bonnie Bednarik, who are senior volunteers at the CAFC, who share their wealth of information and their lived experience to help us gain a better understanding of how frauds happen and actions to take to prevent frauds and scams. Every year, people of all ages fall victim to fraud. Data from the...
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Bridging the Gap : Building Generational Connections
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
In this episode, Bridging the Gap : Building Generational Connections we explore intergenerational programs that promote understanding and mutual respect among generations, contribute to age friendly communities and have proven to work in addressing ageism. In fact, intergenerational programs are valued and celebrated across Canada and internationally with events held on Intergenerational Day in Canada each year on June 1 and during Global Intergenerational Week which is recognized this year from April 24 - 30, 2025. Join us to listen to our senior expert on intergenerational learning, Sharon...
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Inspirations for Lifelong Learning
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
In this episode, our guest Olive Bryanton, is the epitome of the life-long learner. Motivated to learn with her unending curiosity and desire to advocate and improve the lives of older adults, we learn about her journey to going back to PEI University to complete her Phd. Floursishing from her research, peer mentoring endevours and organizational connections, led Olive to her current advocacy work in community and government, leadership roles on needs older women in rural areas and role model for other later life learners. In this episode you will learn : How Olive defines life...
info_outlineIn this final episode of Season 1 of Aging Vibrantly, we are putting a stop to frauds and scams targeting seniors.
Our host Raeann Rideout and co-host Mary Ennis, speak with Stephanie Senecal, the Senior Support Unit Coordinator from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, along with Karen Deredin and Bonnie Bednarik, who are senior volunteers at the CAFC, who share their wealth of information and their lived experience to help us gain a better understanding of how frauds happen and actions to take to prevent frauds and scams.
Every year, people of all ages fall victim to fraud. Data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre shows that Canadians lost a staggering $638 million to fraud in 2024. Although scams can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time, we know that older people are being targeted more than others. According to the Government of Canada, fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians.
This episode focuses on increasing awareness of current scams, emergency scams and romance/friendship scams to provide tips on how to recognize the signs to protect against falling prey to scammers.
During this episode you will learn:
- The role of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- How CAFC senior volunteers support victims of frauds.
- Statistics on the number of victims and financial loss to frauds and scams.
- Why older adults are targeted
- How the Emergency Scam and Romance/Friendship Scams operate and target seniors as well as tactics used by fraudsters.
- A “scamming the scammer” experience which leads to an arrest of a scammer.
- Red Flags to recognize scams.
- Tips to protect against frauds and scams.
- Actions the CAFC is undertaking to dismantle fraudsters.
- How to report scams and frauds to the CAFC.
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Reference Websites:
Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre (CAFC)
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
Canadian Bankers Association
https://cba.ca/for-canadians/scam-prevention
Competition Bureau of Canada
https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/fraud-and-scams
Equifax
https://www.equifax.ca/business/fraud-prevention
Scams and fraud - Government of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html
Resources:
Little Black Book of Scams
https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/little-black-book-scams
CAFC Protect Yourself Information
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/protect-protegez-eng.htm
EAPO: Frauds and Scams Protect Each Other
https://eapon.ca/factsheets/#fraudsandscams
EAPO Protect Yourself: (In 6 languages)
https://eapon.ca/factsheets/#1710950743845-d8dca94d-d796
EAPO Cyber Security for Seniors
https://eapon.ca/factsheets/#Cyber-Security-Tips-for-seniors
EAPO On-line Dating and Romance Scams
https://eapon.ca/factsheets/#romance-scam-tips4seniors
EAPO Gift Card Scams
https://eapon.ca/factsheets/#Gift_Card_Scams
Article on Bonnie’s emergency fraud experience
https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/windsor-senior-helps-police-foil-grandparent-scam
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About our Guests
Stephanie Senecal
Stephanie is an OPP civilian member and the Senior Support Unit Coordinator at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). She manages a team of senior volunteers who do call backs to senior victims of fraud, who input fraud data and who also do fraud prevention presentations to the public. Stephanie also presents on a regular basis and assists law enforcement with their senior victims of fraud.
Bonnie Bednarik has been a volunteer with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre since June 2023. Having had a close call with being the victim of a scam herself in a “scamming the scammer” experience, she was recruited by the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre. She is a grandmother and is passionate about doing her part to help other vulnerable victims.
Karen Deredin currently volunteers with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the North Bay Regional Health Centre. She has over 40 years experience working in various administrative/ accounting roles at various organizations, including Inco (now Vale), Optimum Insurance and Nipissing University.
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CREDITS:
This podcast is Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Producer: Todd Miller, The Podcast Experts
Podcast Coordinator: Lisa Widdifield
Co-Host: Mary Ennis, Member of Aging Vibrantly Podcast Advisory Committee,
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Don't forget to also check out other episodes on our Youtube channel or wherever you listen to your podcast. Be sure to check our website eapon.ca to learn more resources on abuse prevention and protecting the rights and dignity of older adults.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as constituting or implying endorsement by EAPO of any entity, product, service or organization mentioned, referenced, or linked.