Fraud experts and law enforcement officers gathered at the Legacy Centre to educate the public, especially seniors, on how to protect themselves from scams.
Julie Matthews, a fraud prevention educator, said fraud can happen to anyone.
“Seniors know they’re at risk, and they seek out information,” said Matthews after the March 24 event. “Statistics, (however), show younger people between 18 and 45 are victimized more often.”
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She explained younger people often believe they won’t be scammed or are too busy to learn about fraud prevention. Meanwhile, seniors take the time to attend events and educate themselves on red flags.
Scammers constantly change their tactics, but Matthews explained there are common warning signs to watch for.
“Think before you click. Don’t click on strange links or websites,” she said. “There are a lot of phishing emails from people pretending to be your bank, utility company, or even Amazon.”
She also warned about phone scams.
“There’s a huge scam right now with people pretending to be Telus, offering a loyalty discount,” said Matthews. “It’s definitely not Telus calling you.”
She advised people to hang up and look up the company’s official number before engaging.
Protecting personal and financial information is another key defense, she added.
“Don’t overshare on social media, and don’t provide personal details through email, a strange website, or over the phone,” she said.
With tax season underway, scammers are also posing as the Canada Revenue Agency, TurboTax, and H&R Block to trick people.
“They know a lot of people use these companies,” said Matthews. “It’s a numbers game. If they call or email enough people, someone will fall for it.”
Her biggest advice? Stay alert.
“Anyone can be scammed,” she said. “If you know that, you’ll stop and think before you click or trust someone.”
Const. Melanie Flynn of the Lloydminster RCMP urged people to verify who they are speaking to before sharing any personal information.
“Sometimes fraudsters will call pretending to be law enforcement,” said Flynn. “Hang up and call your local detachment to confirm.”
She also warned scammers may provide partial bank card numbers to gain trust.
“They might give you the first four to six digits of your card, but those are just the bank’s identifier numbers,” she said. “Don’t fall for it.”
Flynn encouraged victims to report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or contact their local RCMP detachment.
“If something feels off, trust your instincts,” she said. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Mayor Gerald Aalbers stressed the fact fraud can affect everyone, from individuals to businesses, and even the city.
“It’s imperative we bring this matter forward and share as much information as possible,” said Aalbers.
He hopes attendees took one key lesson from the event.
“Take that second look before clicking ‘yes’ or opening a file,” he said. “Make sure you’re dealing with the right people.”
He also reminded the public fraudsters use many tricks to deceive victims.
“If it doesn’t feel right, chances are, it’s not right,” said Aalbers. “There’s no free money in this world.”
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