Toronto resident charged in lotto scam targeting seniors: How to protect yourself
Scams targeting the elderly continue to be on the rise, as officials give tips to seniors and their loved ones on how to protect themselves.
Peel Regional Police have arrested and charged a 27-year-old Toronto woman in connection to a series of lottery scams, which took place over a six-month period.
Abigal Aseani Lindsay was arrested for what investigators from the Fraud Bureau are calling “Advanced Fee Lottery Scams.” The criminal investigation concluded that the woman had allegedly received over $50,000 from multiple victims in Alberta and Manitoba, all of whom were elderly. The scams led victims to believe that they had won a lottery prize, but in order to claim their winnings they would have to pay a fee.
“The elderly victims were instructed to send funds via bank transfers,” said Peel Regional Police in a media release.
“They were also instructed to send cash and gift cards via postal service to residential addresses located in the City of Mississauga.”
Lindsay was charged with two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, as well as a Defraud the Public Over $5,000 charge. She is scheduled to appear in court on July 31.
This recent incident continues a trend in Canada where fraudsters are preying on elderly victims.
Recently in May, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) warned the public against a recent rise in “grandparent scams”, which are fake emergency scenarios geared toward seniors and used to prey on your fear of a loved one.
The OPP received fraud reports totalling a staggering $531M in victim losses in 2022 alone. Of this, $138M was reported by victims aged 60 years or older. This means that on average, seniors lose 33 per cent more in scams than any other demographic in the country.
Given the staggering data, it is more important now than ever to protect yourself, and our senior community, against these scams.
Identifying a lottery scam, and how to protect yourself
The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC), which has jurisdiction in Alberta and Manitoba, shared a few tips to help identify a lottery scam. They specify that members of the public should not, under any circumstances, “send money or personal and financial information to someone making a request.”
You will know it is a scam, if:
You didn’t purchase a ticket or enter a contest in your said province. If so, it is likely that you would not be entitled to a prize.
You have been informed that you’ve won a lottery prize from another country.
You have been asked to pay taxes or fees to claim said prize.
You are provided with a cheque from a third-party organization to assist with paying taxes or fees.
You are instructed to not tell anyone about your “win” or else you will be unable to claim your prize.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is also reminding Canadians to be diligent and protect themselves from scams and fraud. They note that “scammers can target any Canadian or Canadian business,” regardless of their demographic.
As an individual, make sure you are always protecting yourself by:
Not being afraid to say "no." Don’t be intimidated by high-pressure sales tactics.
Do your research and always verify that the organization you are dealing with is legitimate.
Do not give out any personal information. This includes your name, address, birthdate, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and/or credit card or banking information.
Beware of upfront fees. Many scams will request you pay fees in advance — however, it is illegal for a company to ask you to pay a fee upfront before they give you a loan.
Protect your computer. Don’t click on any urgent-looking messages you see when browsing online.
Carefully consider who you are sharing videos and images with.
Protect your online accounts by creating a strong password, enabling multi-factor authentication and ensuring you do not reveal any personal information over social media.
The CAFC is also reminding residents to beware of spoofing, and equip yourself with how to recognize and identify the dangerous practice. Spoofing is used by fraudsters to mislead victims and convince them that they are communicating with legitimate people, companies and organizations.
Spoofing can occur through caller ID; where fraudsters will manipulate the phone number appearing on call display, email or websites. In all cases, fraudsters will manipulate the information to appear as if you are receiving it from a legitimate source.
To protect yourself from spoofing, ensure you always hang up and make the outgoing call when someone claims to be contacting you from your financial institution, service provider, law enforcement or government agency — call the company or agency in question directly.
If you have been contacted by someone who indicates that you have won a lottery prize, simply disregard the request. Contact your provincial lottery organization to double check if your prize is legitimate, and report any fraud, even if it resulted in no money lost, to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
