Protection for
senior citizens
Criminals often regard older persons
as easy targets for many kinds of crimes. Every elderly person
should be aware of these crimes and how to prevent them.
Con games and sweet-talk crimes – Pigeon
drop: This scheme
accounts for more than half of the confidence games reported
to the police. The swindlers claim to have found a large
sum of money and offer to share it with you. You are asked
for your bank. The swindlers take the “good faith” money
and give you a phony address where you are to collect your
share of the found money. You never hear from them again.
Bank Examiner: A
phony bank examiner contacts you and asks for your help in
catching a dishonest bank employee. He asks you to withdraw
a specified amount of cash from your account so that he/she
may check the serial numbers. After
turning over the money to the examiner, you never hear from
him again.
Door-to-door sales: Many
door-to-door sales are not legitimate. Provincial laws protect
you against quick sales at your door. Enquire and be sure.
Mail fraud schemes, Consumer
frauds: Beware of
contests that require you to put up money to win, even
if there is a guarantee that you will be a winner.
Home improvement offers: Beware
of tempting home improvement offers, made through the mail
or on the spot. These offers are a popular type of swindle.
Chain-referral schemes: These
schemes offer a commission for buying one item and selling
additional ones to friends. The products are usually over-priced
and should be avoided.
Retirement estates: Any
retirement estates offered at conspicuously low prices to “lucky” individuals
are usually fraudulent and should be avoided.
Business opportunities: Business
opportunities and work-at-home schemes, which promise you
high profits after a substantial investment of registration
fee, are often fraudulent.
Medical fraud: Fake
laboratory tests, miracle cures, and mail order clinics,
etc. are other ways schemed to defraud you. Legitimate doctors
and hospitals do not advertise through the mail.
For your protection:
- Do
not rush into something involving your money or property
- Be
wary of something-for-nothing or get-rich-quickly schemes
- Never
sign a contract until you and your lawyer, banker, or other
expert has thoroughly read it.
- Never
turn over large sums of cash to anyone, especially a stranger,
no matter how promising the deal looks.
- Do
not hesitate to check for credentials of a salesman or
public official.
- Report
all suspicious offers to the police immediately, before
the swindler leaves town in search of other victims
- Arrange
for incoming cheques to be sent directly.
Other Crime
Prevention Tips
At Home:
- Join
Operation Identification.
- Install
good locks and always use them.
- Don’t
leave telltale signs that you are away.
- Never
open your door to a stranger without credentials. Install
a wide-angle door viewer that permits you to see callers
before you open the door.
On The Street:
- Walk
only in well-lit areas.
- No
not burden yourself with packages and a bulky purse.
- Never
display large sums of money in public.
- Walk
near the curb and away from alleys and doorways.
In Your Car:
- Always
lock your car after entering and whenever leaving it.
- If
you have car trouble, raise the hood, lock yourself in
and wait for the police. If a stranger stops to offer help,
do not get out of the car. Ask the stranger to call a service
truck for you.
- If
you suspect someone is following you, drive to the nearest
public place (gas station, all-night restaurant) and blow
your horn.
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