Turning the tables on those who prey upon seniors

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Various police departments have issued warnings to seniors attempting to educate the population about the various ways scam artists and criminals are preying upon them. If one looks at who criminals are most attracted to, they would be people with perceived large cash reserves and lifetime savings. Our parents, senior family members fit that bill well.

Fraud, theft, home invasions, assault at ABM’s, mail and internet fraud all have persisted and grown into a criminal pandemic for the most vulnerable amongst us, elderly folk. Whether seniors show acceptance, openness and patience to the predator, these scumbags violate those who have built our community and nations.

Since 2022 the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) has received fraud reports totalling well over $531 million, with the senior’s portion being $148 million. Similar examples are seen worldwide. Research has shown that seniors lose on average 33% more funds than other demographics. To further complicate the situation, less than 5-10% of victims report scams and frauds to law enforcement, whether being ashamed or unable to identify the crimes.

• In Canada investment frauds represent $79.1 million in losses in 2022. $36.7 million losses in Ontario alone
• Romance frauds account for reported $19.5 million in 2022
• Service scams represent $8.5 million while extortion frauds represent $7.7 million
• Emergency – Grandparent scams (calling pretending to be a child in trouble) amounts to $7.1 million in 2022

Remember, if it is too good to be true, it probably is folks. Scams originating from Nigeria top the scales, with a letter or email sent to your loved one telling them they inherited or won a massive amount of funds, and all they have to do to receive this pay-out is provide personal information, bank accounts or credit card particulars.

The Caribbean also experiences these frauds against their seniors, totalling $112 million in 2022. The predator calls announcing the senior has won a cruise. All that is needed is their personal information.

Home invasions are a common way to rob and exhort funds. Someone who appears to be an energy worker (heating), or a governmental worker knocks at the door, and barges in once the senior opens it to see who is there. Such invasions have been brutal, ending in violence and long-term trauma towards seniors.

Hot rooms with dozens to a hundred predators sit and call seniors whose names and phone numbers were acquired from senior homes, community centres and social clubs. A caller can spend a great deal of time speaking to the often-confused senior, ultimately acquiring information that can lead to fraud.

Many within the Caribbean have called for a gathering of law enforcement and judicial officials from all the islands to develop ways to protect seniors, investigate and prosecute organized criminal illegal actions within the region. Defrauding seniors is a multi billion dollar multi-national criminal enterprise requiring law enforcements full attention and efforts. An effort to unite forces against this treatment of seniors, initiated by American district attorneys has international and continental aspects to it. Efforts to fight international crime demand an international response.