Scam Prevention Resources for Seniors: Essential Numbers & Help

Welcome back to CyberSmarts for Seniors. This series is created especially for seniors who want to stay safe, confident, and connected in today's digital world.

We've covered a lot of ground in this series, understanding scams, recognizing warning signs, protecting yourself, and knowing what to do if you're targeted. Now let's make sure you have all the resources you need at your fingertips.

Let me give you the key phone numbers you should write down and keep somewhere easily accessible. Many people keep these numbers on their fridge, next to their phone, or in their wallet.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. One-eight-eight-eight-four-nine-five-eight-five-zero-one. This is your primary resource for reporting fraud and getting information about current scams.

East Algoma OPP non-emergency line. One-eight-eight-eight-three-one-zero-one-one-two-two. Use this to file local police reports about scams or fraud attempts.

Your bank's fraud hotline. This number is on the back of your bank card or on your monthly statement. Find it now and write it down.

Service Canada. One-eight-zero-zero-two-zero-six-seven-two-one-eight. If someone claims to be calling from Service Canada, you can verify by calling this number.

Canada Revenue Agency. One-eight-zero-zero-nine-five-nine-eight-two-eight-one. If someone claims you owe taxes, verify by calling this official number.

Credit reporting agencies. Equifax is one-eight-zero-zero-four-six-five-seven-one-five-five. TransUnion is one-eight-zero-zero-six-six-three-nine-seven-four-two. These are the numbers to call to place fraud alerts on your credit report.

I recommend creating a simple list with these numbers and keeping it visible. When you're in a stressful situation, having these numbers ready saves time and reduces anxiety.

Now let's talk about reliable online resources where you can learn about new scams and verify information.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website. antifraudcentre dot ca. This is your best source for current information about scams targeting Canadians. You can report fraud online, sign up for scam alerts, and search their database to see if others have reported similar scams.

Competition Bureau Canada. competition hyphen bureau dot canada dot ca. This site provides information about consumer protection and current scam trends.

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. cyber dot gc dot ca. If you're concerned about online security or protecting your devices, this government site provides reliable information.

Your bank's website. Most Canadian banks have fraud prevention sections with current information about scams targeting their customers.

A word of caution. Stick to official government and established organization websites. Be careful about random websites offering fraud protection services or claiming to help you recover lost money. Some of these are scams themselves.

Scams change constantly. Here's how to stay current.

Sign up for email alerts from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. They send notifications when new scam types emerge.

Follow trusted sources. If you use social media, follow the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, your local police service, and other official organizations.

Talk with family and friends regularly about scams. When you get together, share experiences. These conversations help everyone stay informed.

Attend community presentations. Many libraries, community centres, and senior centres offer presentations about fraud prevention.

Check in periodically with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website. Even visiting once a month keeps you informed about emerging threats.

Read your bank statements carefully. Review your statements monthly and report anything unfamiliar immediately.

You're not alone in protecting yourself from scams. Your community has resources available.

Your local library often has programs about online safety and fraud prevention. Librarians can help you research companies or verify information online.

Community centres and senior centres frequently host presentations about scams and fraud prevention.

Service Canada offices can verify information about government benefits. If you're unsure whether a call or letter is legitimate, visit in person.

Your bank branch. Building a relationship with staff at your local branch means you have people you can ask when something seems suspicious.

Family members and trusted friends are resources too. Don't hesitate to call someone when you need a second opinion.

Consider creating an informal support network with friends or neighbours. You can agree to be resources for each other when suspicious calls or emails arrive.

The more connected you are, the harder it is for scammers to isolate and manipulate you. Your community connections work against their tactics.

Protecting yourself from scams isn't a one-time effort. It's an ongoing practice, like staying healthy or maintaining your home.

Make verification a habit. Get in the habit of verifying unexpected contacts before responding. Over time, this becomes automatic.

Stay engaged with your community. Isolation makes you more vulnerable. Staying connected keeps you informed and supported.

Keep learning. Technology changes, scam tactics evolve, but your willingness to stay informed keeps you protected.

Share what you've learned. Talk about scams openly. The more people know, the safer everyone becomes.

Trust yourself. You now have information, resources, and strategies. Trust your ability to recognize problems and get help when needed.

You now have a comprehensive list of resources, phone numbers, websites, and community connections. You know how to stay informed about new scams and how to build a support network.

Remember, these resources exist to help you. Don't hesitate to use them. Making a verification call or reporting a suspicious contact isn't wasting anyone's time. It's exactly what these services are for.

In our final video, we'll wrap up everything we've covered and talk about how you can share this knowledge with others in your community.

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Check out the Video Series:

Video 1: Introduction to Scam Awareness

Video 2: The Scammer's Playbook

Video 3: Phone Scams

Video 4: Online & Digital Threats

Video 5: Financial & Romance Scams

Video 6: New Technology Threats

Video 7: Your Protection Toolkit

Video 8: What to Do If You're Targeted

Video 9: Resources & Staying Safe

Watch Video 10: Empowerment & Community

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Return to the Introduction to the Video Series:

Protecting Yourself from Scams: A Complete Guide for Seniors in Canada

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Return to the CyberSmarts for Seniors Introduction:

CyberSmarts for Seniors: Practical Lessons to Build Digital Confidence and Safety

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This resource is part of the CyberSmarts for Seniors Project, funded in part by the Government of Canada’s
New Horizons for Seniors Program and ELNOS, and delivered in Elliot Lake by Raknas Inc. and Golden Voices, the seniors-focused division of the DiversityCanada Foundation.

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