How to Spot and Avoid Scams Targeting Seniors

Scammers target older adults because they're more likely to own a home, have savings, and answer a phone call from an unknown number. Being targeted says nothing about how smart you are — these schemes are professionally designed, rehearsed, and often run by organized groups. The good news is that nearly all of them share the same handful of warning signs, and once you know them, they're easy to spot.

The five red flags

Urgency. "Act now or your account will be frozen." "Your grandson is in jail and needs bail today." Real emergencies rarely require you to decide in minutes without talking to anyone.

Secrecy. "Don't tell your family or the bank teller, they won't understand." Anyone who asks you to keep a payment secret is protecting themselves, not you.

Unusual payment methods. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash handed to a courier. Government agencies, utilities, and legitimate businesses do not demand these.

Contact you didn't ask for. An unexpected call, text, email, or pop-up about a problem you didn't know you had.

Pressure to stay on the line. Scammers often keep you on the phone while you drive to the bank or buy gift cards, so you can't stop and think.

The scams older Ontarians see most often

The "grandparent" or emergency scam. Someone calls claiming to be a grandchild (or a lawyer or police officer acting for them) who is in trouble and needs money immediately. They often say "it's me" and let you supply the name. Hang up and call your grandchild, or another relative, directly on a number you already have.

Government impersonation. Callers or texts claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, or the police, threatening arrest, a frozen SIN, or unpaid taxes. Government agencies do not demand immediate payment by gift card, crypto, or e-transfer, and do not threaten arrest over the phone.

Tech support and "your computer is infected" pop-ups. A frightening message with a phone number to call. Real security warnings don't tell you to phone a stranger. Close the window; if it won't close, restart the device. Never let an unknown caller take remote control of your computer.

Romance scams. An online friend or partner you've never met in person, who builds a relationship over weeks or months and then needs money for a medical emergency, travel, or an investment.

Investment and crypto schemes. Promises of guaranteed or unusually high returns, often arriving through a social-media friend, a message group, or a "trading platform" that shows impressive but fake gains until you try to withdraw.

Home repair and door-to-door fraud. Unsolicited workers who say they noticed a problem with your roof or furnace, push for an immediate cash deposit, or pressure you to sign a rental or service contract on the spot. Ask for written quotes from more than one licensed company before agreeing to anything.

A simple rule that stops most scams

If someone contacts you and the conversation involves money, a threat, or personal information, hang up, then call the organization back using a number you find yourself — on your bank card, a recent statement, or the organization's official website. Don't use a number the caller gave you, and don't trust caller ID, which scammers can fake.

It also helps to agree on a family "check-in" habit: before sending money to anyone in an emergency, call a second family member or a trusted friend first. Some people choose a family code word that a real relative could answer and a scammer could not.

If you think you've been targeted or have already paid

Stop all contact. Then, as quickly as you can:

• Call your bank or credit card company right away — the sooner they know, the more options they have to stop or trace a payment.
• Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through their website, and file a report with your local police.
• Change passwords on any account the scammer may have reached, starting with email and banking.
• If you shared your SIN, driver's licence, or other ID, contact Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada to place a fraud alert on your credit file.

Please don't be embarrassed. Reporting matters: it helps investigators connect cases, and many victims report afterward that telling someone was the hardest and most useful step.

One note on this site

Whenever you use any tool or offer online — including the optional paid scans linked from The Ontario Seniors Hub — read what you are agreeing to and what it costs before you pay, and pay only through a checkout page you recognize. If anything about a price or a promise isn't clear, ask first.