Seniors warned about fraud schemes
Market regulator helps fund campaign
The Gazette
13 November 2008
Will you be the next sucker?
That's the gist of a new crime-prevention campaign in Quebec to help seniors avoid being taken.
"There's been a resurgence of fraud against seniors," said Lucien Paquette, who directed the anti-fraud initiative for the 30,000-member Association Québécoise de Défense des Droits des Retraités.
"They account for 14 per cent of the population but about 40 per cent of victims," Paquette said.
"Clearly, they're targeted. And only about three of 10 frauds actually result in a complaint. It's like an iceberg, with the real size of the problem camouflaged because it isn't visible."
Through workshops, posters and brochures, the association is attempting to make seniors aware of the many ways they can be ripped off, including: get-rich-quick investment schemes ; identity theft; padded car repairs and home renovation; telemarketing; useless health products and treatments; pyramid schemes; bogus contest wins; and even family swindles.
The brochures are in French, but are to be translated into English next year.
Elderly women, living alone, have long been a favourite target for home-renovation scams.
An average fraud ends up costing the victim about $2,000, Paquette said. But there are often indirect costs as well, such as higher stress levels, depression and weight loss.
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008
Abridged
SOURCE: The Gazette (Montreal)
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