Office of the Seniors Advocate
Victoria, BC
March 10th, 2025
March is Fraud Prevention Month and with reported cases of fraud rising, seniors are encouraged to increase their awareness of current scams and learn how they can protect themselves.
Every year, people of all ages fall victim to fraud. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), 63,847 Canadians reported being targeted by scammers in 2023 and lost over $578 million to fraud and cybercrime.
The CAFC reports that in the past year, the top three most reported types of fraud were identity fraud, service fraud, and phishing –all designed to get you to pay or give away sensitive information like your social insurance number, passwords or banking details. The top three frauds reported that had the highest level of financial impact were investment scams, spear phishing, and romance scams.
Scams that most frequently target seniors include the grandparent scam, romance scam, investment scam and service scams.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. People who are aware of scams, but not victims themselves, are also encouraged to report suspicious activity to the CAFC.
