A Daughter-in-Law's Guide to Ageing Well

What Seniors Need to Know Right Now

Years ago, back in Korea, my mom got a phone call that terrified her. A stranger on the line claimed my younger brother had been kidnapped, and demanded she transfer money immediately. In the background, she could hear someone crying out in pain — she was in a full panic, completely convinced it was my brother’s voice.

She rushed to the bank, actually prepared to wire the money, when something made her pause. Quietly, she wrote a note to the bank teller: “This is my son’s phone number — can you please call him for me?” The teller helped her get through, she reached my brother, safe and completely unaware anything had happened, and the whole thing fell apart. That quick thinking, twenty years ago, stopped what could have been a devastating loss.

I thought about that story again recently, because my mother-in-law here in Canada got a scam call not long ago — this time, something to do with a supposed internet or tech issue. She’s sharp, she didn’t fall for it, but it rattled her a little. And it made me realize: this isn’t just a “somewhere else” problem. It’s happening right here, to people I love, and probably to yours too.

So today, I want to talk about elder fraud in Canada — what it actually looks like right now, and what seniors and their families can do about it.

The Scale of the Problem Right Now

This isn’t a small or occasional issue. In a single recent year, seniors accounted for almost 40% of all money lost to scams reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, out of more than $644 million in total losses — a nearly 300% increase since 2020. And that’s likely only a fraction of what’s actually happening, since the Centre estimates that only about 5% of frauds ever get reported.

What’s changed most in recent years is sophistication. Fraud experts point to AI as a major factor — scammers can now generate convincing fake websites, emails, and even deepfake voices and videos, making the classic “grandchild in trouble” call far more convincing than it used to be. One particularly unsettling example involved an AI-generated video that appeared to show a real public figure endorsing a scam.

Common Scams Targeting Seniors

The “grandchild in trouble” call — similar to what happened to my mom, but now sometimes enhanced with AI voice cloning to sound eerily like an actual family member, asking urgently for money, often for bail.

Tech support and internet scams — a caller claims there’s a problem with your computer, internet, or account, and asks for remote access or payment to “fix” it. This is the type my mother-in-law encountered.

SIN (Social Insurance Number) scams — automated messages or callers claiming your SIN is linked to criminal activity, sometimes threatening arrest, pressuring the person to hand over personal information or move money to a “safe” account.

Investment scams — fraudulent investment opportunities, now accounting for roughly half of all money lost to scams, often involving fake websites and official-looking documents.

Extortion — coercing someone into handing over money, property, or services through threats or pressure.

What to Do in the Moment

If your parent gets a call like this, a few things can make all the difference:

• Pause before acting. Real emergencies rarely require instant, silent money transfers. Urgency itself is a red flag.
• Hang up and call back independently. Use a known number — not one given by the caller — to verify with the family member or institution directly.
• Never confirm personal information over the phone, especially a SIN, banking details, or passwords, to someone who called you.
• Ask a neutral third party. My mom’s bank teller became the calm voice of reason in a moment of panic. A neighbour, a bank staff member, or another family member can offer that same clarity.
• It’s okay to just hang up. No explanation needed.

Where to Report and Get Help in Canada

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) The national hub for reporting fraud, whether or not money was lost. Reporting helps authorities track scam patterns and protect others. 📞 1-888-495-8501 🌐 antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

Local Police For fraud involving financial loss or personal safety concerns, filing a report with local police creates an official record and a file number, which can matter for banks or insurance later.

Your Bank If any information or money was shared, contact your financial institution immediately — they can often freeze accounts or reverse transactions if caught quickly.

Cyber-Seniors A Canadian nonprofit specifically focused on helping seniors navigate technology safely, including scam awareness. 🌐 cyberseniors.org

A Gentle Word for Families

If a parent tells you they almost fell for something — or did — try to respond the way that bank teller responded to my mom: calm, helpful, no judgment. Shame is exactly what scammers count on to keep people quiet, and quiet is what lets scams keep working. My mother-in-law told me about her call almost as soon as it happened, and I was glad she felt she could.

Talking openly about these calls, as awkward or embarrassing as they might feel, is honestly one of the best protections we have. If it happened to my mom, and to my mother-in-law, it can happen to anyone.

This article is for general informational purposes. If you or a family member has been a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your financial institution as soon as possible.