Holiday Scams Targeted at Seniors: What Families and Caregivers Should Look Out For

Vancouver Senior Home Care  |  December 17, 2024

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC, Needs to Know About Preventing Holiday Scams

When it comes to holiday scams targeted at seniors, it seems that no matter where we turn, a nefarious individual or group is looking to take advantage. Scammers and con artists are all around and the holiday season seems to inspire more. To make matters worse, the scams are becoming more sophisticated in their approach.

As society relies more heavily on technology, sometimes a wrong click on the wrong link compromises one’s personal information.

Holiday Senior Scam FACTS: #DYK The Canadian Government reports that from January 2014 to December 2016, Canadians aged 60 to 79 lost almost $28 million to various scams.

The holiday season is a time of giving, charitability, and all-around goodwill – but all of that can make us more vulnerable to the schemes that are out there. Seniors are certainly no exception. It’s common for scammers to target seniors because they often have large nest eggs and exceptional credit scores but little financial management. Additionally, memory issues and cognitive decline may make seniors more likely to give up valuable information.

Holiday Senior Scams and Fraud Protection

According to CPA Canada’s Fraud Protection for Seniors webinar, seniors are targeted more frequently because they are home, often alone, all day; may feel lonely, isolated and overly trusting; struggle with health issues; and have more readily available money. Fraudsters play off these vulnerabilities.

Knowing what to look out for can save seniors from having their finances or even identity compromised. Below are some of the more common scams that target older adults during the holiday season. Share these with senior clients so that they can stay guarded and safely enjoy the holiday season.

Common Holiday Senior Scams for Families to Watch Out For

#1. “Emergency” Calls: 

This tactic, which has gained considerable traction over the last few years, involves the scammer calling a senior, claiming to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money. They often say that they’ve been arrested, have been in an accident, or just need emergency funds in general. Seniors who receive such calls should ask specific questions that will trip up the caller. In most cases, the scammer will not be able to answer these questions and will hang up in frustration. When in doubt, the best thing to do when an unknown number pops up is simply not to answer.

#2. Phony Email Offers: 

Most personal email inboxes are full of promotional offers, and this certainly ramps up during the holidays. First and foremost, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers create emails that look legitimate but contain links that lead to pages requesting personal information. Seniors should look over every promotional email offer carefully, paying close attention to the sender’s address (it should have a proprietary address such as @amazon.com or @target.com) and anything unusual like misspellings. A good rule of thumb when it comes to entering sensitive information into any website is to ensure that the URL begins with “https.” This signifies that the site is secure and encrypted.

#3. Free Gift Cards: 

Speaking of offers that are too good to be true, seniors may come across emails or flashy website ads that advertise gift cards at no charge. While some companies have deals where you receive gift cards after purchase, you can safely assume the ones that say ‘free’ without purchase are entirely illegitimate. Seniors should not click on the accompanying links or ads for these offers.

#4. Illegitimate Charity: 

It’s the season of giving, but it’s important to know where exactly your charitable donations are going. Seniors should be wary of any unfamiliar organizations or those whose appeals are overtly emotional. To confirm the legitimacy of an organization, seniors can utilize the website Give.org.

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends, family, neighbours, and all others who bring joy to our lives. That makes it all the more difficult to imagine that there are those out there who wish to rob people of that joy – but they are out there. 

At Comfort Keepers®, we aim to preserve the joy, warmth and wonder that seniors and other adults cherish during the holiday season. We will work to reduce their risk of being conned, not only from the schemes above but also any others that may exist. Our caregivers can also provide help with togetherness tasks and daily routines.

The Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC, is Comfort Keepers®

Many families prefer Comfort Keepers® when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. 

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can help with 24-hour care. We provide home care services like respite care, overnight care, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care, personal care, and more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Comfort Keeper’s philosophy is to elevate the human spirit. Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Our caregivers will be there to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. 

Trained caregivers provide our clients with personal home care to maintain the highest quality of life. Happy and healthy at home, our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers care that addresses safety, nutrition, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Bring The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live with Comfort Keepers®

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide elder care in homes throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond. Please call (604) 689-8609. 

Personal Care and Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

We offer seniors and families peace of mind with our personal, companionship, palliative, and end-of-life care services. Learn more about our unique services by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Accredited and Quality Respite Care Available 24/7 for British Columbia Families

Accreditation Canada has awarded Comfort Keepers® Vancouver with Exemplary Standing. This designation is only achieved after an organization’s policies, procedures, and processes undergo a thorough evaluation by industry experts. Comfort Keepers has met or exceeded the stringent quality standards for Home Care companies.

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