You likely better know it as fraud.
It often starts out as a friendly conversation. It all is very “buddy-buddy” because con men are pros at the game. You are not their first target. Nor their last.
Lise Landry, senior liaison with Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS), implores citizens to be fraud aware.
“Anyone can be taken advantage of by a fraudster and their methods of targeting community members continue to advance with technology,” Landry said. “If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is and you should never provide your personal information to someone over the phone/text/email without doing research on the legitimacy of the organization/agency.”
Grifters get you to hand over money or property.
There are a host of synonyms for swindlers. Pick whichever best fits from this list: fake, sham, bluffer, deluder, cheat, duper, mountebank, pretender, impersonator, trickster, deceiver, charlatan, rogue, hoodwinker or exploiter. There are many more. Some words are less harsh, but the act is criminal nonetheless. It is an illicit activity and unfortunately, pervasive.
We all know the term “wolf in sheep's clothing,” and even children are told about the need to be aware, careful and incredulous. Fables, and even Bugs Bunny cartoons, warn listeners and viewers of the dangers in trust. Things are not as you see them.
Why then do grifters succeed with few questions and imaginary collateral? How does someone who gets money by tricking people seemingly get away with it, to repeat and replicate simple or complex schemes? Are we at fault for being suckers, schmucks and putzes?
In person, or on-line there are perils. “She fell for a charming, fast-talking grifter,” we hear, share and tut-tut, puzzling on the gullibility and delusions some so easily fall for. Do we wear blinders when it comes to love and money?
Couples, single older females, seniors, you, me … all of us have the potential to be victims.
From a police perspective, Landry points out while anyone can be taken in by a confidence scam, some age groups in particular are more susceptible to being victims.
“Fraudsters have means of targeting vulnerable populations, including older adults,” she said. “Older adults are less likely to be skeptical of individuals soliciting for information and are more likely to be intimidated or coerced, especially when fraudsters use tactics involving the threat of law enforcement or the well-being of family members.”
Speaking of family members, do we have to be careful there also? Landry confirms the dangers may be close to the bone or close to home.
“Unfortunately, yes, often family members or people we know can take advantage of us, especially if there is some cognitive impairment,” she said. “Properties can be stolen out from under us and bank accounts drained.”
Landry suggested people should take extra precautions to protect their money. First, she said people should always avoid giving their bank card or credit card to a family member.
“If you want them to be able to do some online banking for you, go to the bank, explain it to your bank, they can set up a family member to be able to do some banking, with a debit card in their name, to do purchases and pay bills only,” she said. “They would not be on your account; you can put a restriction that they cannot take out cash.”
Wrongfully handled, misappropriated, embezzled, disposed of, are all sobriquets for the disappearance of investments, resources, jewelry or cash. These terms don’t capture the real emotional impact of fraud. And victims’ rarely recover what was stolen, often because this type of crime, especially when it involves a loved one, is rarely reported.
“… What we must remember is that only 5 to 10 per cent of frauds are reported to police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center,” Landry said. “In 2021 in Canada, $379 million were lost in scams and frauds. In 2022, $530 million, so the numbers are climbing. These scammers are ever changing their tactics, always trying out new spins on old scams.”
As phone scams are the most easy to avoid, Landry offers some simple advice to avoid becoming a victim.
“Do not entertain the caller, as soon as you realize this is not someone you know, hang up,” she said. “Preferably, if you do not recognize the number, do not answer. By simply answering the call, you provide the scammer with two pieces of information: 1.) That this is a live phone number, (and); 2.) That you are in the home at that particular time.
“If they are calling you saying a family member is in need, check it out, call your family member, not the number provided by the caller. Always wait 10 minutes or more before you call anyone, your line may be locked by the scammer, check for a dial tone.”
If the potential scammer knocks at your door trying to sell you something, do not sign any contracts or agreements at the door, Landry said, and do not agree to anything before you speak with a family member or someone you trust.
As for all other types of fraud, be vigilant, never be coerced, threatened or afraid, and be skeptical of anyone who offers a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Leprechauns are mischievous, but fraudsters are deceitful and dangerous. They will take you for what they can.
Hugh Kruzel is a writer in Greater Sudbury. Prime features stories about senior living and the issues impacting seniors in our community. It is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
