Putting a Stop to Frauds and Scams Targeting Seniors
Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
Release Date: 02/27/2025
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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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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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
People often think they don’t need to have a Power of Attorney for Property, but in fact everyone should consider having one, especially when they are still capable of expressing their wishes. In this episode, Power of Attorney for Property: Best Practices and Practical Considerations, our guest Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, engages with us in a lighthearted, yet serious discussion, on what you need to know about making a Power of Attorney (PoA). In this episode you will learn: What a Power of Attorney (PoA) is and the importance of having one Define differences between PoA...
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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors
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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...
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.