Growing Sophistication of Scams
Westboro residents gathered at the Churchill Seniors Centre on May 22 for a community fraud and scam prevention event hosted by Councillor Jeff Leiper’s office, with presentations from the Ottawa Police Service and TD Bank.
Presenters noted that older adults are increasingly being targeted by organized fraud schemes as Canada undergoes one of the largest intergenerational transfers of wealth in its history. Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated tactics designed to build trust, create panic, and pressure individuals into giving up personal information, access to accounts, or money.
The session focused on the growing sophistication of scams targeting seniors and residents across Ottawa, including phishing emails, identity theft, phone scams, financial fraud, and online account compromise.
One scam discussed involved fraudsters posing as Rogers representatives offering attractive phone upgrade deals. Victims are guided through what appears to be a legitimate account upgrade process before expensive devices are redirected or intercepted by scammers, leaving the account holder financially responsible.
Presenters also warned about scams where fraudsters impersonate government agencies, banks, technical support services, police, or even family members in distress and pressure victims to make urgent payments using gift cards — often Apple, Google Play, or Amazon cards. Gift cards are commonly requested because the funds are difficult to trace or recover once the card numbers are shared.
Residents learned that banks, pharmacies, and retail staff increasingly receive training to recognize potential fraud situations. For example, staff may ask additional questions if someone, particularly a senior, is attempting to purchase unusually large amounts of gift cards or withdraw significant sums of money. These conversations are intended to help identify possible scams before financial losses occur.
Key prevention tips shared at the event included:
Never share one-time verification or security codes over the phone;
Avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or text messages;
Verify unsolicited offers directly through official company phone numbers or websites;
Monitor financial and mobile accounts regularly for unusual activity;
Create family “safe words” or verification questions to help prevent emergency impersonation scams; and
Do not feel embarrassed if you have been targeted or tricked. Fraudsters are highly sophisticated and deliberately use fear, urgency, isolation, and emotional manipulation to pressure victims into acting quickly.
The event highlighted the importance of community awareness and open conversations about fraud prevention, particularly as scams continue to evolve rapidly.
The Westboro Community Association is exploring opportunities to support additional community safety programming, including a future emergency preparedness workshop for residents.
For more information about community safety initiatives, please contact the WCA at hellowestboro@yahoo.ca.
Fraud prevention resources:
TD Fraud Prevention Resources: https://www.td.com/ca/en/about-td/privacy-and-security/fraud-protection
Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit: 613-236-1222 ext. 7300
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca | 1-888-495-8501
Equifax Canada: 1-800-465-7166
TransUnion Canada: 1-800-663-9980
—
Cristin Napier
WCA Board Member