The grandparent scam is so effective because it exploits people’s emotions. First, a caller gains trust by tricking their target into volunteering information, like a grandchild’s name. They may say something like, “Hi Gram, do you know who this is?” Then, with that name at the ready, they impersonate the grandchild.In this scam, fake grandchildren ask for help with car repairs, late rent, a medical emergency, or even to post bond. They pretend to be in distress. They may evenbeg the grandparent not to tell anyone. In other versions of this scam, a caller claims to be an arresting police officer, doctor, or lawyer trying to help the grandchild. They prey upon emotions to pressure victims into sending money as quickly as possible. And who among us wouldn’t readily help a cherished relative in desperate financial need? These scams are even harder to identify and resist thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Today, con artists can clone real voices of real relatives and use them to commit fraud. People who run grandparent scams often ask to be paid through gift cards or wire transfers. These don’t always require identification to collect, which means victims have no way ever to recover their money. Some victims report that scammers showed up at their homes, posing as “couriers” to pick up the money.

These cons work because they appear to come from a legitimate source: a bank, a mortgage company, or a debt collection agency. Scammers call, text, or send email messages that look and sound perfectly legitimate. They may claim that a checking or savings account has been compromised and ask for personal information, such as a password or Social Insurance Number, to “secure” it. They may promise better rates or terms on a home loan. Or they may threaten arrest for unpaid medical bills—which may or may not exist. Each of these types of claims is a lie. But scammers know how to be convincing. They can easily fake the information on Caller ID. They know how to make email addresses and links look real. And they often will use threatening language to scare their victims into volunteering sensitive information or sending money. Usually, the people committing this type of fraud will demand immediate payment through a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform

These scams prey upon the doubts and discomforts that many people have around computers. In fact, when it comes to fraud committed against older adults, tech support scams top the list. How do they work? Typically, a person’s computer or phone screen will freeze or go blank. A pop-up message will appear with a phone number to dial for help. When the user calls it, the scammer on the other end will ask for permission to log on to the device remotely. This fake “tech support” representative also may demand a fee to repair the “issue.”

In government impersonation scams(also known as government imposter scams), callers pretend to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Canadian Dental plan or similar government agency.. They threaten to arrest or deport the person who picks up the phone if they don’t pay their “unpaid taxes”. Or, they may threaten to cut off Medical benefits unless the person provides personal details. This information can then be used to commit identity theft.Government imposters may demand prepaid debit cards, cash, or wire transfers as payment. Using special technology, they often “spoof” the actual phone number of a government agency. This can trick some people into thinking the caller is from a valid source

As more people turn to online dating, con artists are seizing the opportunity. Romance scammers create fake social media profiles and use them to gain trust and steal money. In some cases, these scammers may be (or pretend to be) overseas. They may ask their victims to pay for visas, medical emergencies, and travel expenses to come to the Canada. Romance scams (also called sweetheart scams) can drag out for a long time. As a result, victims often lose a lot of money. The FTC (US) found that in 2023 alone, more than 64,000 people reported a romance scam , with losses totaling $1.1 billion.

Adapted from The National Council on Aging