How to Protect Seniors from Online Scams & Digital Fraud in Victoria BC.

Published by Executive Home Care  |  Last Updated: July 2026

The internet should be a tool that brings joy and connection to seniors’ lives — not a source of fear or financial anxiety.

Table of Contents

1. The Growing Threat of Digital Fraud in BC
2. Why Are Seniors Targeted by Scammers?
3. The 6 Most Common Scams Targeting Seniors in BC
4. Red Flags at a Glance: Quick Reference Guide
5. How to Protect Your Parents: A Step-by-Step Defence Plan
6. What to Do If Your Parent Has Been Scammed
7. How Executive Home Care Protects Seniors
8. Frequently Asked Questions

The Growing Threat of Digital Fraud in BC

For many seniors in Victoria BC, the internet is a lifeline. It is how they video call grandchildren in Vancouver, order groceries when the weather turns cold, and manage their banking without leaving the house. But that same digital connection has also opened the door to a rapidly growing threat: online scams and digital fraud.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), Canadians lost over $643 million to fraud in 2024, with seniors and vulnerable individuals hit the hardest. [1] Even more alarming, the CAFC estimates that 90 to 95 percent of fraud goes entirely unreported due to shame, embarrassment, or confusion. [2] This means the true cost to older Canadians is likely in the billions. In British Columbia specifically, the BC Securities Commission reported that investment fraud alone cost British Columbians hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years, with seniors representing a disproportionate share of victims.

At Executive Home Care, our caregivers see the anxiety this causes every day. We visit seniors in Victoria, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Colwood, Esquimalt, Brentwood Bay, View Royal, Cobble Hill, and Salt Spring Island who are afraid to answer their phones or open their emails because they have been targeted by aggressive scammers. The fear of being defrauded can lead to digital isolation, cutting seniors off from the very tools that are meant to keep them connected and independent.

This guide is designed for adult children and family caregivers. It breaks down the six most common scams targeting seniors in British Columbia today, the psychological tactics fraudsters use, and the practical, step-by-step measures you can take to protect your aging parents’ life savings and peace of mind.

Why Are Seniors Targeted by Scammers?

It is a common misconception that seniors fall for scams simply because they are “bad with technology.” The reality is much more complex, and frankly, more troubling. Fraudsters specifically target older adults for several calculated, deliberate reasons — and understanding those reasons is the first step toward building an effective defence.

• Financial Assets: Seniors are more likely to have accumulated significant savings, own their homes outright, and have excellent credit scores. To a professional scammer, they are high-value targets. A retiree in Oak Bay who owns their home and has a pension is worth far more to a fraudster than a 30-year-old with student debt.
• Trusting Nature: Many older adults were raised in a generation where a handshake meant something and people generally told the truth. This inherent politeness — the reluctance to hang up on someone or accuse a caller of lying — is a vulnerability that scammers deliberately exploit. They are trained to keep seniors on the phone.
• Isolation and Loneliness: Seniors who live alone may welcome a phone call or an online message simply to have someone to talk to. Romance scammers, in particular, prey on this vulnerability, spending weeks or months building a fake relationship before asking for money. The loneliness is real, and the connection feels real — which makes the betrayal devastating.
• Fear of Cognitive Decline: Scammers often use aggressive, fast-talking tactics designed to confuse and overwhelm the victim. If a senior is already worried about their memory, they may comply with the scammer’s demands rather than admit they do not understand what is happening. The scammer may even say, “I already explained this to you” — a cruel tactic designed to make the senior doubt their own judgment.
• Less Familiarity with Digital Red Flags: While seniors are increasingly tech-savvy, many did not grow up with the internet and may not immediately recognize the warning signs of a phishing email, a spoofed phone number, or a fake website that looks identical to their bank’s login page.

Understanding these vulnerabilities is not about blaming seniors — it is about recognizing that these are professional criminals who have refined their tactics over years. The most intelligent, successful people fall for these scams every day. Shame is never the appropriate response.

The 6 Most Common Scams Targeting Seniors in BC

Fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics, but the majority of scams targeting older British Columbians fall into one of six categories. Knowing these in detail is your most powerful weapon.

1. The Grandparent Scam (Emergency Scam)

This is perhaps the most emotionally devastating scam in Canada right now. The senior receives a frantic phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild — or sometimes a lawyer or police officer calling on the grandchild’s behalf. The caller says the grandchild is in deep trouble: they have been arrested, been in a car accident, or are stuck in a foreign country. They need money wired immediately for bail, legal fees, or medical bills. And critically — they beg the grandparent not to tell anyone, because “Mom and Dad will be so angry.”

The grandparent scam relies on panic and urgency. Scammers now use AI voice-cloning technology to make the call sound exactly like a loved one in distress.

The AI Twist (2025–2026): In recent years, scammers have begun using Artificial Intelligence voice-cloning technology. By pulling a short audio clip of the grandchild’s voice from social media — a TikTok video, an Instagram reel, even a YouTube comment — they can clone the voice with alarming accuracy. The senior genuinely believes they are hearing their grandchild sobbing on the other end of the line. This technology has made the grandparent scam significantly more convincing and more dangerous than ever before.

The Key Red Flag: The demand for secrecy. A real grandchild in genuine trouble would want their parents involved. Any caller who insists “please don’t tell Mom and Dad” is trying to isolate the victim and prevent verification. Hang up immediately and call the grandchild directly on their known cell phone number.

2. Tech Support Fraud

The senior is browsing the internet when a loud, flashing pop-up suddenly takes over their screen. It claims their computer is critically infected with a virus and provides a 1-800 number to call for immediate technical support. The pop-up may be accompanied by a loud alarm sound and may even lock the browser so it appears impossible to close. When the senior calls, the “technician” (the scammer) asks for remote access to the computer to “fix” the problem.

Once inside the computer, the scammer has access to everything: saved banking passwords, personal documents, email accounts, and financial records. They may steal this information silently, lock the computer and demand a ransom to unlock it, or transfer money directly from the senior’s online banking while they watch helplessly.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), tech support scams are the most widely reported kind of elder fraud in North America, costing victims hundreds of millions of dollars annually. [3]

The Key Red Flag: Legitimate technology companies — Microsoft, Apple, Google — will never send a pop-up telling you to call a phone number. They will never ask for remote access to your computer unsolicited. If you see a pop-up like this, the correct response is to turn off the computer entirely using the power button.

3. Romance Scams

Romance scams are a long con — and they are among the most psychologically damaging of all fraud types. The scammer creates a fake profile on a dating site or social media platform (Facebook is particularly common) and reaches out to a senior who has recently been widowed, divorced, or lives alone. The profile typically features an attractive, successful person — often claiming to be a widowed engineer working overseas, a retired military officer, or a successful doctor.

They spend weeks or months building a deep emotional connection, sending daily messages, asking thoughtful questions about the senior’s life, and making them feel genuinely seen and valued. They may even send gifts. The relationship feels completely real — because the scammer is a professional who does this full time.

Eventually, a “crisis” occurs. The scammer claims they need money for a medical emergency, a plane ticket to finally come visit, a sudden business failure, or a customs fee to release a package. Because the senior is deeply emotionally invested, they send the money. Then another crisis occurs. And another. Romance scams are particularly insidious because the victim loses both their money and someone they believed was a genuine partner. The emotional recovery can take years.

The Key Red Flag: The person is always overseas and can never video call (or the video is blurry and brief). They profess deep love very quickly. They never ask to meet in person, but always have a reason why they cannot. Run any profile photo through a reverse image search (Google Images) — scammers almost always steal photos from real people online.

4. Government Impersonation (The CRA Scam)

The senior receives a phone call or an email claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Service Canada, the RCMP, or even the BC Ministry of Health. The caller is aggressive and threatening, claiming the senior owes back taxes and will be arrested immediately if they do not pay. The caller may even “transfer” the senior to a fake “RCMP officer” to make the threat feel more real.

The scammer will demand payment in untraceable methods — most commonly Bitcoin ATMs, wire transfers, or Apple/Google Play gift cards. They will insist the senior go to the store immediately, buy the cards, and read the numbers over the phone. They will stay on the line the entire time to prevent the senior from talking to anyone at the store who might intervene.

The Key Red Flag: The real CRA will never demand payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, nor will they threaten immediate arrest over the phone. [4] If you receive a call like this, hang up. If you are worried you actually owe taxes, call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 using the number from the official Government of Canada website.

5. Parcel Delivery Text Scams (Smishing)

This is one of the fastest-growing scam types in Victoria BC right now. The senior receives a text message that appears to come from Canada Post, FedEx, or UPS. The message says a parcel could not be delivered and asks them to click a link to reschedule delivery or pay a small customs fee (often just $2–$5 — a deliberately small amount designed not to raise suspicion).

When the senior clicks the link, they are taken to a website that looks identical to the real Canada Post or FedEx website. They enter their credit card number to pay the small fee — and the scammer now has their full credit card details. In some cases, the link installs malware on the phone that gives the scammer ongoing access to the device.

The Key Red Flag: Legitimate courier companies will leave a physical notice at your door if a delivery fails. They will not send a text asking for payment via a link. If you are expecting a parcel, go directly to the courier’s official website (type it in yourself — do not click the link) and track it using your tracking number.

6. Investment and Cryptocurrency Fraud

Investment fraud is the single highest-dollar-loss category for seniors in Canada. In 2024, Canadians lost an estimated $137.9 million to investment scams alone, with seniors representing a disproportionate share of victims. [5] These scams typically begin with an unsolicited contact — a phone call, an email, or increasingly a message on social media or WhatsApp — from someone offering an “exclusive” investment opportunity with guaranteed high returns.

The scammer may claim to be a licensed financial advisor, a cryptocurrency expert, or even a friend of a friend. They will show the senior fake account statements showing their investment growing rapidly. When the senior tries to withdraw their money, they are told they need to pay a “tax” or “fee” first. Once that fee is paid, another fee appears. The money is never returned.

The Key Red Flag: No legitimate investment guarantees high returns with no risk. Any investment opportunity that arrives unsolicited, pressures you to act quickly, or asks you to keep it secret from your family is a scam. Always verify that any financial advisor is registered with the BC Securities Commission (BCSC) at bcsc.bc.ca before investing a single dollar.

Red Flags at a Glance: Quick Reference Guide

Share this table with your parents. Print it out and put it on the fridge. It covers all six scam types at a glance.

How to Protect Your Parents: A Step-by-Step Defence Plan

Protecting your parents from digital fraud requires a combination of open communication, technical safeguards, and ongoing support. Here is how to build a comprehensive digital defence around their finances and their peace of mind.

The most powerful weapon against fraud is open communication. Sit down with your parents and establish a “Family Password” for emergencies.

Step 1: Have the “Scam Conversation” — Without Lecturing

The most powerful weapon against fraud is awareness. Sit down with your parents and talk about the scams listed above. The key is to frame it as a shared problem, not a lecture about their vulnerability. You might say, “I read an article today about how sophisticated these new phone scams are getting. They’re even using AI to fake people’s voices now. Have you gotten any weird calls lately?”

This approach invites them into the conversation rather than making them feel patronized. It also opens the door for them to share incidents they may have been too embarrassed to mention before.

Establish a “Family Password.” Agree on a secret word or phrase that only your immediate family knows. If they ever receive a frantic call from a “grandchild” in trouble, tell them to ask for the family password before doing anything else. If the caller does not know it, it is a scam. Hang up immediately and call the grandchild directly.

Step 2: Implement Technical Safeguards on Their Devices

You do not need to be an IT expert to make your parents’ devices significantly safer. Set aside an afternoon to go through these steps together — and if you need help, this is exactly the kind of task our caregivers assist with through our senior technology support service. You may also find our guide on how to video call for seniors helpful for getting parents comfortable with technology in a safe, supported way.

• Set up Call Blocking: On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Block numbers” or “Spam protection.” If your parents use a landline, contact their telecom provider (Telus, Shaw) to enable call-screening services.
• Install an Ad Blocker: Install a reputable ad-blocking browser extension such as uBlock Origin on their computer. This will stop the malicious “Your computer is infected!” pop-ups from appearing in the first place — eliminating the entry point for tech support fraud entirely.
• Enable Automatic Updates: Ensure their computer, tablet, and smartphone are set to update automatically. These updates contain critical security patches that protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities.
• Set Up Two-Factor Authentication: For their email and banking accounts, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This means that even if a scammer gets their password, they cannot log in without also having access to the phone. Most banks now offer this as a standard option.
• Use a Password Manager: Help them set up a simple password manager (like Apple’s built-in Keychain or Google Password Manager) so they do not need to reuse the same password across multiple sites.

Step 3: Simplify and Monitor Their Digital Footprint

The more complex a senior’s digital life, the harder it is to monitor and protect.

• Consolidate Accounts: If they have multiple bank accounts or credit cards they rarely use, help them close the extras. Fewer accounts means fewer attack surfaces for scammers.
• Set Up Transaction Alerts: Log into their primary bank account and set up text or email alerts for any transaction over a set amount (e.g., $100). This ensures that if a scammer does gain access, you or your parents will know within minutes.
• Bookmark Trusted Sites: Create a bookmarks folder on their web browser containing only the sites they actually need — their bank, their pharmacy, their email provider. Instruct them to always use those bookmarks rather than typing the site name into Google, where scammers frequently buy fake ads that look identical to the real bank’s login page.
• Review Privacy Settings on Social Media: Romance scammers and grandparent scammers harvest information from Facebook profiles. Review your parents’ privacy settings together and ensure their friends list, photos, and personal details are not visible to the public.

Step 4: Establish the “Pause and Verify” Rule

Every scam in existence relies on the same core mechanism: panic and urgency. Scammers need the victim to act immediately, before they have time to think critically or consult anyone. The antidote to this is a single, simple rule that your parents can apply to any suspicious situation:

The Pause and Verify Rule: No matter how urgent the caller sounds — no matter how frightened or how convincing — hang up the phone. Then call the person or organization back using a number you find yourself from an official source.

If the caller claimed to be from the bank, look at the back of the debit card and call the number printed there. If the caller claimed to be a grandchild, hang up and call the grandchild’s cell phone directly. If the caller claimed to be from the CRA, go to canada.ca and call the official CRA number. A legitimate organization will never penalize someone for hanging up and verifying through official channels. A scammer will.

Confidence with technology comes from knowledge. Simple safeguards like ad blockers, automatic updates, and transaction alerts block the vast majority of threats.

What to Do If Your Parent Has Been Scammed

If the worst happens and your parent falls victim to a scam, the way you react in the first moments is critical — both for recovering the money and for your parent’s emotional well-being.

1. Do Not Shame Them
The senior is likely already feeling immense embarrassment, guilt, and fear. They may have been holding onto the secret for days or weeks, too ashamed to tell anyone. If you react with anger or frustration — “How could you fall for that?!” — they will shut down and may hide future incidents from you. Approach the situation with deep empathy. Say, “These scammers are professional criminals who steal from smart, successful people every single day. This is not your fault. We are going to fix this together.” This response is not just kind — it is strategic. It keeps the lines of communication open for the future.

2. Stop the Bleeding Immediately
Contact their bank or credit card company as soon as possible. If the fraud occurred within the last 24 to 48 hours, the bank may be able to freeze the account, stop a wire transfer, or reverse a credit card charge. Time is critical — every hour matters. If the scammer gained remote access to their computer, disconnect the computer from the internet immediately by unplugging the ethernet cable or turning off Wi-Fi. Do not turn the computer back on until a professional has examined it and confirmed it is clean.

3. Report the Crime to Police
Report the fraud to your local police department — the Victoria Police Department (250-995-7654) or your local RCMP detachment. Even if the police cannot recover the money, having a police report number is often required by banks to process fraud claims and may be needed for insurance purposes.

4. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
File a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. [6] The CAFC uses these reports to track scammer networks, issue public warnings, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies across Canada. Every report helps protect other seniors from the same criminals.

5. Contact the BC Seniors Advocate
The Office of the Seniors Advocate BC (1-877-952-3181) can provide guidance and connect families with additional resources for seniors who have been victimized by financial fraud. [7]

How Executive Home Care Protects Seniors

At Executive Home Care, we believe that protecting a senior’s financial and emotional well-being is just as important as protecting their physical health. Our caregivers serve as a vital second set of eyes and ears in the home — and their consistent, trusted presence is one of the most powerful fraud-prevention tools available.

Our caregivers build deep, trusting relationships with clients — and because they are in the home regularly, they are often the first to notice when something is wrong.

Through our family connection and digital life support services, our caregivers help seniors navigate the digital world safely. This includes:

• Technology Guidance: We help clients use smartphones, tablets, and computers confidently — and we teach them to recognize the red flags of common scams in a calm, supportive environment.
• Mail and Message Screening: With the client’s permission, we can review suspicious emails, text messages, or postal mail together, providing a second opinion before any action is taken.
• Reporting Suspicious Contacts: When a client mentions a suspicious phone call, an unusual email, or a new “friend” they have been talking to online, we take it seriously and immediately alert the family.
• Reducing Isolation: Because loneliness is one of the primary vulnerabilities that scammers exploit, our companionship services directly reduce the risk of romance scams and emergency scams by ensuring our clients have genuine, meaningful social connection in their lives.

More importantly, our caregivers build deep, trusting relationships with our clients. Because we are in the home regularly, we are often the first to notice the subtle behavioral changes that indicate a senior is being targeted — the anxiety after a phone call, the secretive behavior, the unexpected withdrawal of cash. When we spot a red flag, we immediately alert the family, stopping the fraud before it causes irreversible harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are seniors targeted by scammers more than other age groups?

Seniors are targeted because they often have significant accumulated savings, own their homes, and have excellent credit. Additionally, scammers deliberately exploit the isolation and loneliness that many older adults experience, making them particularly vulnerable to romance and emergency scams. It is important to understand that falling for a scam is not a sign of low intelligence — these are professional criminals who have refined their tactics over many years.

What is the grandparent scam and how does it work?

The grandparent scam involves a fraudster calling a senior and pretending to be their grandchild in trouble — typically claiming to be arrested, in an accident, or stranded abroad. They demand immediate, secret payment for bail or medical bills. Scammers now frequently use AI voice-cloning technology to make the call sound exactly like the real grandchild. The solution is a Family Password — a secret word only your family knows that the caller must provide to prove their identity.

Will the CRA ever call and demand payment in gift cards?

No. The Canada Revenue Agency will never demand payment via Apple gift cards, Google Play cards, Bitcoin, or any other cryptocurrency. They will also never threaten immediate arrest over the phone. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. If you are concerned about a genuine tax issue, call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 using the number from the official canada.ca website.

What should I do if my parent has been scammed?

First and most importantly, do not shame or blame them. Immediately contact their bank or credit card company to freeze accounts and attempt to stop transfers. Report the crime to your local police department and file a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Contact the BC Seniors Advocate at 1-877-952-3181 for additional guidance and support.

What should I do if I receive a suspicious text message about a parcel delivery?

Do not click the link. Legitimate courier companies like Canada Post, FedEx, and UPS will leave a physical notice at your door if a delivery fails — they will not send a text message asking you to click a link and pay a fee. If you are expecting a parcel, go directly to the courier’s official website by typing the address yourself (e.g., canadapost.ca) and track your package using your tracking number. Delete the suspicious text immediately.

How can I check if a website or email is a scam before clicking?

For websites: look at the URL carefully. Scam sites often use addresses like “canadapost-delivery.com” or “cra-refund.net” instead of the real “.gc.ca” or “.ca” domains. Look for the padlock icon in the browser bar, but know that even fake sites can have one. When in doubt, do not click — type the official address directly into the browser. For emails: hover over any link before clicking to see the real destination URL. If the email claims to be from your bank but the link goes to a different website, it is a phishing email. Report it to your bank’s fraud department.

Taking the Next Step

The internet should be a tool that brings joy, connection, and independence to your parents’ lives — not a source of fear. By educating them about the tactics scammers use, setting up basic technical safeguards, and establishing open lines of communication, you can protect their life savings and their dignity.

If you are worried about your parents’ vulnerability to scams, or if you simply want the peace of mind that comes with having a trusted, consistent professional in their home, Executive Home Care is here to help. We provide premium, one-on-one care across Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Colwood, Esquimalt, Brentwood Bay, View Royal, Cobble Hill, and Salt Spring Island.

References

[1] Department of Finance Canada. (2025). Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Canadians lost over $643 million to fraud in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance.html

[2] Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. (2025). Annual Statistical Report 2024. Retrieved from https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

[3] Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). (2024). Elder Fraud Report 2024. Retrieved from https://www.ic3.gov/

[4] Government of Canada. (2025). Protect yourself from fraud: What the CRA will never do. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/security/protect-yourself-fraud.html

[5] Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. (2025). Investment fraud statistics 2024. Retrieved from https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

[6] Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. (2025). Report fraud and cybercrime. Retrieved from https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm

[7] Office of the Seniors Advocate British Columbia. (2026). Fraud Prevention Resources for Seniors. Retrieved from https://www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca/