From fake job offers to impersonated loved ones, the range of scams continues to grow. With the rise of generative AI, scams are more convincing and easier to produce at scale. In a recent newsletter, we shared tips on protecting against phishing. If you’d like a copy, please contact the office. As a follow-up, here are some other practical ways to help protect yourself and others. Please feel free to share this with younger family members or those more vulnerable:

1. Pause before you react. Scammers often rely on urgency or emotional pressure—though sophisticated scams may involve building trust over time. Slowing down can help prevent you from making mistakes.

• Be skeptical of any message or caller that pressures you to act immediately—especially those involving money or personal information.
• “Take Five, Tell Two:”If you’re unsure, pause for five minutes and speak to two trusted people.

2. Let technology work for you. Leverage built-in tools and settings to screen out threats. Given our significant daily use of smartphones, here are a handful of ideas relating to mobile phones:

• Block unknown callers or let them go to voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a message.
• Silence calls from unknown numbers to avoid answering by accident. For the iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Phone. Scroll down to “Calls.” Tap “Silence Unknown Callers.”
• Use your carrier’s screening tools. For example, Rogers offers “Call Control,” requiring callers to enter a randomly generated number before the call connects to block automated robocalls.
• Setup a filter on phones to sort unknown texts into a separate folder to avoid accidental replies and reduce clutter.
• Never reply to unknown calls or messages—doing so confirms your number is active.

3. Limit what you share. The less information you put out there, the harder it is for scammers to target you. ‍

• Never share personal or financial information unless you’re certain of the recipient’s identity and the communication channel is secure.
• Reduce your digital footprint. Delete unused online accounts to reduce access in case of a data breach.
• Avoid posting personal details on social media, like birthdays, addresses, travel plans or family member names.
• Set online privacy settings to the highest level.
  
• Be cautious when filling out online forms or surveys—always verify the source first.

4. Use good payment practices. Be thoughtful about how and where you send money.

• Use payment methods with fraud protection, such as PayPal, when sending funds to unfamiliar recipients. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards or Interac e-transfers for unfamiliar transactions.
• Use separate email addresses or usernames for less secure transactions to protect your identity online.

5. Add a layer of personal security. Proactive steps can make it harder to impersonate you or your loved ones.

• Create a family code word to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a loved one in distress. If a caller can’t provide the code word, hang up.
• Consider using a dedicated email address exclusively for financial and banking transactions.
• For added privacy, some use“alternate” birthdates or slight name variations when registering for non-financial services—to conceal private data and limit exposure of personal information.

6. Stay informed. Fraud tactics have become more sophisticated and continue to evolve rapidly.

• Follow trusted resources such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to stay updated.
• If you suspect a scam, report it—you could help protect others.

Staying alert, using smart tools and talking to others can go a long way in protecting yourself from fraud. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out—your security is a priority.