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Scammers targeting seniors

Scammers are targeting seniors with a variety of schemes that could jeopardize not only their life savings but their independence.

Local senior care experts are urging Central Okanagan families to be alert for scammers who may be targeting their senior loved ones with a variety of schemes that could jeopardize not only their life savings but their independence.

“Scam artists are specifically targeting seniors because they are the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian population and they are seen to be vulnerable for reasons such as their health, age, or even because they are more trusting,” said Don Henke, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Kelowna.

“This scenario has the potential to put more local seniors than ever at risk of losing their life savings, their homes and their trust in others.”

As a result, the Home Instead Senior Care office has launched a public information campaign to educate families and seniors about how to protect themselves.

The Protect Seniors from Fraud program— developed with the expertise and assistance of North American security experts—provides family caregivers with important tools at ProtectSeniorsFromFraud.com.

Included is a criminal target scale which can help family caregivers assess how likely their senior is to be the potential target of a scam.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, seniors are particularly susceptible to fraud schemes because their generation tends to be more trusting and less likely to end conversations.