Protecting Seniors from Scams: What Canada’s New Anti-Scam Coalition Means for You and Your Loved Ones

From romance scams to voice-cloning frauds, the threat landscape is growing—and seniors are among the most vulnerable. A new cross-country coalition is stepping up to change that, with a focus on protecting seniors from scams.

In a historic move, Canada’s major financial institutions, telecom giants, technology leaders, and government agencies have united to form the Canadian Anti-Scam Coalition (CASC)—a groundbreaking alliance to combat the growing threat of scams through education, awareness, and prevention.

This fall, the coalition will launch a national campaign to better protect Canadians, with a special focus on older adults, who are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated scams. This initiative emphasizes protecting seniors from scams. For families supporting senior loved ones, this announcement signals both a growing concern—and a renewed opportunity to take action.

How the Anti-Scam Coalition Aims to Help

The new coalition is designed to take a united, national approach against scams. Instead of banks, phone companies, and government agencies acting on their own, CASC brings them together to share resources, strategies, and education campaigns.

This fall, Canadians will begin seeing a coordinated national awareness campaign, including resources like StandAgainstScams.ca, offering practical tips and alerts to help spot fraudulent activity before it causes harm. The coalition also highlights the growing reality: scams are no longer just annoying emails. They can involve AI-generated voices, convincing impersonations of family members or government officials, and fake websites that look nearly identical to real ones.

Why Are Seniors Targeted?

Scammers often target seniors because they perceive them as financially secure, less tech-savvy, and more likely to respond to emotionally charged messages. Many older adults may also be experiencing varying levels of cognitive change—such as mild decline in memory, judgement, or decision-making—which can make it harder to detect red flags and leave them more susceptible to suggestion. Sadly, these scams don’t just result in financial losses—they erode trust, confidence, and independence.

Here are some of the most common scams affecting older Canadians:

• CRA or Government Impersonation Scams: Callers pretend to be from the CRA or another agency and claim legal action is pending unless payment is made immediately.
• “Grandparent” Scams: A fraudster pretends to be a grandchild or relative in urgent trouble, asking for money or personal information.
• Romance and Investment Scams: Seniors are approached through social media or email by people posing as romantic interests or business partners.
• Prize and Lottery Scams: Victims are told they’ve won a prize—but must pay a fee to claim it.
• AI-Driven Fraud: Emerging scams use voice-cloning and phishing to mimic trusted voices or emails.

These schemes are designed to manipulate emotions—fear, urgency, love, excitement—making even the most cautious individuals vulnerable.

Tips for Helping Seniors Stay Safe

You don’t need to be a tech expert to help protect the people you love. Here are some practical steps families can take to reduce risk:

• Start the Conversation

Encourage seniors to talk about unusual phone calls, emails, or messages. Normalize these conversations so they don’t feel embarrassed or hesitant to share concerns.

• Guard Personal Information

Remind seniors never to share financial or personal details unless they are the ones who initiated the contact and fully trust the source. Gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency payment requests are always red flags.

• Use Technology to Help

Set up call-blocking on phones and save trusted contacts so they know which calls to answer. Bookmark important websites, like their bank or the CRA, so they don’t risk clicking fake links.

• Monitor Finances

Encourage seniors to check their bank or credit card statements regularly and sign up for fraud alerts when available. A small, unfamiliar charge may be the first sign of fraud.

• Encourage a Second Opinion

Scams often create a sense of urgency — “act now, don’t tell anyone.” Remind loved ones it’s okay (and smart) to pause and check with family before sending money or responding to suspicious requests.

• Report and Seek Help

If a scam is suspected, report it right away to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and local police. Quick action can prevent further damage and may help stop the same scam from harming others.

Staying Safe, Staying Confident

Scams are evolving—but so are the tools to fight them. With the launch of the Canadian Anti-Scam Coalition, seniors and their families have a new layer of support in the ongoing effort to stay safe.

By staying informed, encouraging caution, and reminding seniors that asking for a second opinion is always the right move, families can help protect their loved ones from scams—preserving both their financial security and their peace of mind.

Need help for a loved one? Our team can support you with personalized in-home care, coordination services, and helpful guidance. Learn more about Vyta or connect with a Lifestyle Advisor today.