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FA L L 2 0 2 6

SNOWBIRD SURVIVAL

THE MEANING OF HOME

DOWNSIZING YOUR HOME

David Suzuki

ACTIVE LIVING

Guide

Vancouver Is Awesome sits down with David Suzuki to discuss home, family, a changing Vancouver and why the places we love are worth fighting for. At 90, the iconic environmentalist reflects on a lifetime shaped by the region. ANDY WHITE PHOTO

Fall 2026

Inside ACTIVE LIVING Physically and mentally active DOWNSIZINGYOUR HOME Variables to consider METRO VANCOUVER GHOST The (nearly) lost town of Ioco

SNOWBIRD SURVIVAL GUIDE Looking forward to the winter

13 FALL 2026

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ben Bengston SALES

Wali Adel, Hollee Brown, Alison Clay, Brenda Coulbourn, Arlene Grant, Tanya Kalra, Collin Neal, Anis Zunuzi GRAPHIC DESIGN Birgit Brunner GENERAL MANAGER Matt Blair mblair@lodestarmedia.ca

23 10

Published by Lodestar Media 303 West 5th Avenue Vancouver, B.C.

DAVID SUZUKI The meaning of home

FRAUD & SCAMS Tips & updates from the RCMP

Fall 2026

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ACTIVE LIVING How seniors can remain physically and mentally active

rowing older is often equated with slowing down. Aging may be characterized as a period of decline marked by an inability to do the things you once did, but recent data indicates otherwise. According to a report in the journal Geriatrics, a far more optimistic reality awaits seniors. Nearly 45 percent of people age 65 and older show measurable improvements in brain health, physical function or both over time when they take certain steps to promote physical and mental wellness.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, supplemented by at least two days of muscle-strengthening exercises. Brisk walking or swimming can improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of stroke and hypertension, says the Council on Aging. Incorporating yoga or Tai Chi is vital for fall prevention, as it targets balance and ﬂexibility. The CDC says improving joint mobility and balance can signiﬁcantly

extend the amount of time seniors can live independently. In addition, lifting light weights or using resistance bands helps combat age-related muscle loss, which is essential for maintaining metabolic health.

COGNITIVE ADVANTAGES

Mental ﬁtness is just as vital to seniors as physical ﬁtness. According to the World Health Organization, routine cognitive stimulation enhances “brain capital,” delaying the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Strategies for effective mental engagement include:

• Learning: Lifelong learning techniques include picking up a new language or learning an instrument. This helps strengthen neural pathways that allows the brain to reorganize itself even in later decades. • Play games: Play isn’t just for kids; games like chess or complex puzzles improve problemsolving and memory retention, according to Nixon Adult Daycare in Houston. • Socialize: Isolation is a leading

INCORPORATING YOGA OR TAI CHI IS VITAL FOR FALL PREVENTION, AS IT TARGETS BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY. risk factor for cognitive decline, says the National Institutes of Health. Group activities like book clubs or community volunteering can offer emotional fulﬁllment and mental stimulation.

POWER OF POSITIVITY

Findings from a recent Yale University study indicated seniors with a positive outlook on aging were signiﬁcantly more likely to show physical and mental improvements compared to those with negative perspectives. Psychological resilience is an important tool for seniors to stay healthy. Movement, social interaction, stimulating activities, and a positive attitude can help seniors maintain overall health. ◆ Fall 2026

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DOWNSIZING YOUR HOME SOCIAL BENEFITS

VA R I A B L E S T O CONSIDER BEFORE DOWNSIZING A HOME IN RETIREMENT

spiring to save money in retirement makes perfect sense. Once professionals call it a career and are no longer drawing a paycheck, cutting back on expenses can be a sound decision that ensures seniors won’t outlive their money. And housing remains a significant expense, even for retirees who own their homes and no longer have monthly mortgage payments to make. Many retirees seeking ways to save money consider downsizing their homes. According to the National Association of Retailers, 12 percent of people between the ages of 60 and 69 who move indicated their home was too large, and that percentage grows among movers between the ages of 70 and 78 (16 percent) and those who move after turning 79 (18 percent). Downsizing a home in retirement can seem like an ideal means to saving money after calling it a career, but individuals pondering such a move should consider a number of variables before putting their homes up for sale.

COSTS

Downsizing may help retirees lower their property tax obligations, reduce their utility bills and lower their monthly mortgage payments (for those who are still paying off a mortgage on their current homes), but that does not mean moving will not incur new expenses that render such savings moot. Expenditures like closing costs, real estate com- missions, moving-related expenses, and capital gains taxes can quickly add up. In addition, retirees who currently do not pay homeowner’s association fees may be subjected to such fees when moving into a new home, and those fees can be substantial and hard to avoid. Indeed, recent data indicated that 71 percent of new constructions were built in communities with homeowner’s associations or stratas. Prior to down-sizing, current homeowners shouldcalculate all of the costs related to relocating, including anticipated strata fees, to see if downsizing is to their financial benefit.

Another variable that merits consideration is the impact that moving can have on seniors’ social lives. The World Health Organization reports that more than one in 10 seniors experiences loneliness, which can adversely affect their physical and mental health and potentially reduce their life expectancy. Retirees currently living in communities in which they are socially active should weigh the effects of leaving that social network behind. Retirees also can weigh the benefits of moving to 55 and over communities where they will be surrounded by people at a similar stage in life, and how living in such developments may improve their social lives.

ADJUSTING AND ADAPTING

Downsizing will require an adjustment period and a willingness to adapt. Retirees may have an emotional attachment to their current homes, and leaving that behind can be a difficult adjustment. Adapting to life in a new community also can be challenging, particularly if retirees are moving from areas where there are no restrictions regarding their properties to communities where homeowners’ associations must approve of any changes to properties. Moving also may require finding new health care professionals, which can be a particularly difficult adjustment for retirees who have spent years building a strong rapport with their current health care team. Downsizing a home might be a pathway to more financial freedom for many retirees. Seniors considering such a move can consider a number of variables to determine if moving is in their best interest. ◆ Fall 2026

METRO VANCOUVER GHOST

The (nearly) lost town of Ioco

3 WORDS: BRENDAN KERGIN // IMAGES: POMO MUSEUM AND BRENDAN KERGIN

1. Ioco Groceteria, on steps is Paul Warman, Mary Lou Chivers, on horse (owned

by Dave Chivers) Darcy Warman, Vicki Lynn Warman, standing is Maureen Chivers, Dad (Lorne Sherk) in window, 1960, picture has been ripped in threes but taped back together (Fred Laidlaw’s Family album). 2. Ioco refinery site. Shell type pressure stills, Feb. 20, 1916. 3. Ioco townsite. Corner of First Street and 1st Avenue. 4. Black and white photo of five boys and a dog in winter at the Ioco townsite. They are standing on the lawn bowling green, which has been flooded to make an ice rink.

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n a region obsessed with real estate and development, it’s strange that an entire townsite could be lost to time. Much of Ioco, however, is fading into the trees 15 kilometres from downtown Vancouver, near Anmore — with most of its buildings gone, replaced by unkempt forest. A handful of structures, including the faded yellow community hall and groceteria, still stand as they have for 100 years. A century ago, more than 80 homes packed the townsite, along with a school, the store and two churches “In the heyday of the ’20s, Ioco actually rivalled Port Moody in terms of size and robustness,” says local historian Ralph Drew, who has authored a book about the town of Ioco. At its height, Ioco had up to 500 residents, he estimates. Central was a world-class lawn bowling field and clubhouse, Drew explains. That’s now an uneven patch of grass and weeds popular with dog walkers. But 100 years ago, people came from across Greater Vancouver to play, often by ferry. Now, according to the City of Port Moody, just two houses in Ioco are occupied, and the remaining church is still active.

ALMOST IN BURNABY

Before it was a community, Ioco was an industrial project. The name Ioco comes from the company itself: the Imperial Oil Company. To supply its growing industry in 1914, the firm started building a refinery on the Burrard Inlet below Burnaby Mountain. But Burnaby and Imperial got into a property dispute, and the oil company decided to set up across the water. “They literally dismantled the steel storage tanks in Burnaby, brought them out here, set them up, and set up the refinery,” Drew says.

A COMPANY TOWN

Back in the late 1910s, commuting long distances wasn’t common, so workers just moved onto Imperial’s land next to the refinery. “You ended up with a shanty town. Shacks were built hither and yon, people sourced their water from local creeks. It became a very big fire hazard and a sanitation hazard,”

Drew says. To deal with the influx, Imperial decided to create a company town. “It was a booming town in the local sense, with its own post office, its own stores, the ferry came in at the foot of the drive, and there was a road by 1919,” Drew says.

BOOM AND DECLINE

Ioco was a dynamic community through the 1920s and ’30s. Lawn bowlers in white competed while crowds sat on bleachers to cheer and socialize. Baseball was popular, fairs were held, kids from Anmore arrived for school, and tankers arrived from California brimming with crude oil. But when the Second World War arrived in 1939, Ioco’s oil production became essential and guards arrived to protect it. The military also set up camp in the popular central field, which was such a focal point of social life. The military presence indicated a change. Through the ’40s and ’50s, there was still a community, but it was in decline. “By the end of the ’60s into the ’70s, there were just a handful of houses occupied by workers. Once they retired, they could live out their life there. And then once they either moved or died, the property would revert to Imperial Oil,” Drew says. The store and the community hall remained active into the 1970s. Drew remembers Christmas concerts at the hall when he moved to the area.

IOCO GONE TO SEED

Over time, Imperial demolished most of the houses. The remaining

few are surrounded by blue fencing to keep urban explorers out. Bushes spill over cracked sidewalks and vines climb old electrical poles. One neatly kept house still stands. “In some ways, it’s a ghost town. But it’s gone to seed quite frankly because nothing has been done,” Drew says, adding that the heritage is appreciated, but the property is in disrepair. “It’s just gotten stuck in this limbo,” says Rachel Lige, the POMO Museum’s collection technician, who cares for hundreds of Ioco’s artifacts, photos and oral histories. The refinery shuttered in the ’90s but Imperial still runs a distribution hub next to Ioco. The townsite was sold in 2015 to Gilic Global Development Management. The new owners had big plans for Ioco, but they haven’t come to fruition. The remaining buildings have heritage status and the school, still owned by the school board, is in the midst of being turned into a daycare space for 150 children in 2027. For those curious, the POMO Museum’s artifacts include community newsletters and refinery tools. “We have barrels from the general store, a lot of trophies related to the various social clubs and sports clubs,” Lige says. There’s also a self-guided walking tour, with signs around the neighbourhood explaining life in Ioco, and giving context for what remains. ◆ Fall 2026

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SNOWBIRD SURVIVAL GUIDE

here are many reasons to welcome the arrival of winter each year. The holiday season, recreational activities like skiing and snowboarding, and the undeniable beauty of snow-covered landscapes are just some of the reasons to look forward to winter. Winter certainly has its positive attributes, but some may shudder at the thought of colder temperatures and shorter hours of daylight. In fact, some people dislike the cold so much they take to the road each winter and make for locales noted for their mild temperatures. Snowbird is a term used to refer to individuals who depart their homes around the beginning of winter so they can spend the ensuing months in warm climates. ❱❱

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Snowbirds often are retirees, but the flexibility of remote working has enabled more and more working professionals to become snowbirds, too. Those considering a pivot to the snowbird lifestyle can consider these tips for a successful transition. • Find the right locale. Those new to the snowbird lifestyle might assume anywhere that isn’t cold will fit the bill, but warm weather isn’t the only variable to consider when choosing where to spend your winters. Many snowbirds spend several months at their winter destinations, so you will want somewhere that can accommodate the lifestyle you’ve grown accustomed to. First identify your priorities and then consider variables like the accessibility of nightlife, the availability of recreational activities and opportunities to socialize. A warm but especially remote location might appeal to some, but those who like to get out might do best spending their winters in a more vibrant locale.

• Get a firm idea of the cost. Though there’s ways to save on the snowbird lifestyle, it can be costly. Whether you plan to rent a winter home or purchase a second home, there’s notable costs that come with each approach. The costs of renting might seem more straightforward, as renters may think a deposit and monthly rent is all the added expense. But snowbirds who plan to work during the winter will need to consider the tax implications if they will be living and working in a different state or province. Buying a second home also comes with its own tax implications, so it might be best for aspiring snowbirds to work with a certified financial professional who can help them navigate those costs. Certain locales may be tax-friendly for retirees, who also can work with a financial professional to identify locations where the financial implications of snowbirding might not be too significant. • Don’t forget your pets. Pets merit consideration when pondering the

feasibility of the snowbird lifestyle. If you plan to rent lodgings for the winter, you must find a pet-friendly option, which can prove difficult depending on the type and size of your pet(s). Pets’ comfort also merits consideration. Some complexes that specialize in offering winter lodgings may restrict pets or charge hefty fees to allow them. • Don’t forget your current home. Snowbirds also need to arrange for the homes they live in most of the year to be looked after. If you plan to rent your primary home over the winter, that might come with hefty tax implications. If not, someone will need to look after the home while you’re gone. Snow removal and security are two notable components of winter home care that will need to be arranged before you head for warmer locales. The snowbird lifestyle is tailormade for people who prefer yearround warm weather. But several variables merit consideration before adults can commit to the snowbird lifestyle. ◆

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DAV I D SUZUKI ON THE MEANING OF ‘HOME’

avid Suzuki has a home on prime real estate in Vancouver. But it wasn’t always considered so — at least for some.

tells Vancouver Is Awesome.

The iconic environmentalist has lived in his home along Kitsilano Beach for more than 50 years. He bought it for a “very reasonable price” at the time because it was located near a path where gay men used to meet, and because of attitudes in those days, some people were nervous about it, he

“Everybody along that block has just been flipping. They buy, live there for six months … [then] they flip it because the value is going up like that,” he explains, noting that the trend is finally dropping.

Since then, the waterfront property’s value has skyrocketed, and Suzuki, now 90 years old, hardly knows his neighbours.

But his home isn’t a place he’d flip for profit — far from it. ❱❱

WORDS: ELANA SHEPERT // IMAGES: ANDY WHITE

Originally published by Vancouver is Awesome

Fall 2026

True love against climate change People know David Suzuki as the host of the long-running show The Nature of Things, but he’s also a father, son, brother and a dear friend to many, as his recent book Lessons From a Lifetime: Ninety Years of Inspiration and Activism reveals. His wife of more than 50 years, Tara Cullis, holds a glowing spotlight in his life. While the David Suzuki Foundation is named after the pioneering scientist, Cullis is a co-founder and director of the organization. The couple also perform together in a touring play called What You Won’t Do For Love, which explores love’s power to inspire climate action. A performance at New Westminster’s Anvil Centre in 2020 drew a “rave response,” Suzuki says, before COVID struck. It toured again years later, most recently during a run in Ontario beginning in February 2026. “And I love [the play] because … Tara is the star in the whole thing. The thing I keep saying is I’m just a figurehead, because my name’s on it. I get credit for all of the work these people are doing. And in the play, you realize, holy, she’s not only the bestlooking one of the partners, but she’s got the smarts, like she’s the driving force of that. And so I’m thrilled,” he says. “It makes people so vulnerable, because they identify so much with Tara and me, and they’re emotionally open to new ideas,” Suzuki says.

HOME IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS

“This is more than a piece of property or real estate. This is my home,” he says. “When my mother died, I put her ashes on the tree down at the bottom of our territory. And every time that tree blossoms, I think of my mother.”

Suzuki also put his niece’s ashes in the same place. A dogwood on the property houses a treehouse for the kids to play in.

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“My kids would gather dead squirrels and snakes off the street [and] they’d come home. And we had a little ceremony, and we had a little cemetery of pets, you know, our dogs and cats and all of these wild things,” he adds. Suzuki’s father, a carpenter, ripped out his own kitchen cabinets from an old house he had and installed them into his son’s home. “It looks like hell; it doesn’t fit. But every time I open the door to the

cabinet, I think of my father,” he says. “I know that when someone buys it, they’re going to rip it out.” Suzuki’s best friend, Jim Murray, also stayed with him for a weekend while he was building a fence along the property. Murray spent a long time carving a handle on the gate, and now he recalls his friend every time he opens it. But for the environmentalist, his feelings for his home extend to larger global issues.

DEFEND THE PLACE YOU LOVE, SAYS SUZUKI

“The things that really matter are not included in [these] transactions that we have, and so people just buy and sell and move away,” he says. “We’ve got to find that relationship with Mother Earth.” Suzuki gets letters from people who worry about rising sea levels or trees being cut down near their homes, and they want to find a better area. “So I’m going, ‘Is that your home? Stay there and fight for it. Don’t just abandon it and move away. Fight for your place on this earth,’” he says. “The things that matter most cannot have a price put on [them]. But we’re doing it all the time with Mother Nature. We look at a forest and say, well, we need the money from those trees. But the forests are cleansing the earth, and healing the atmosphere, and filtering the water.” Suzuki says people focus heavily on the economic aspects of property, but the West Coast is an “absolutely fantastic” part of Canada, including Vancouver — and that isn’t because of money.

FROM B.C.’S TROUBLED PAST TO A MULTICULTURAL PRESENT

Some of these reﬂections appear in the activist’s latest book, Lessons From a Lifetime: Ninety Years of Inspiration and Activism. It includes writings from his friends, colleagues and family, who comment on his life and their relationship with him. But the British Columbia Suzuki grew up in felt very different. The beginning of his book highlights his experiences in a Japanese internment camp in the B.C. Interior when he was a young boy, where he forged a lifelong alliance with the natural world. He comments that he had a “happy childhood” despite the province being “unbelievably racist.” “I was just a happy kid,” he reminisces, but says that as he got older, he saw racist columns in newspapers and on TV.

“I THINK TO ME THAT’S ONE OF THE AWESOME THINGS ABOUT WHAT VANCOUVER IS TODAY…THAT IT’S NOT WHAT VANCOUVER WAS. THERE’S BEEN A PROFOUND SHIFT. AND ALL FOR THE GOOD, OF COURSE. WE’VE BECOME MUCH MORE MULTICULTURAL.” DAVID SUZUKI

“I think to me that’s one of the awesome things about what Vancouver is today … that it’s not what Vancouver was. There’s been a profound shift. And all for the good, of course. We’ve become much more multicultural,” Suzuki says. But he’s concerned about the future of the city, and of the world

— both of which he desperately cherishes. “The science has been clear for over 50 years now about climate change,” he says. “But that’s just one of the problems. Toxic pollution, the loss of biodiversity … which to me is the major crisis. “There are many, many issues.” ◆

Fall 2026

FRAUD AND SCAMS

Originally published by North Shore News

n the world of fraud prevention and investigation, the two most used phrases are “buyer beware” and “you don’t get something for nothing.” Remember those phrases and repeat them to yourself whenever you receive any solicitation, particularly when it is by telephone. When an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. It is your responsibility to be alert, to be familiar with common frauds and scams, and to be well informed on tips that may prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud.

GRANDPARENT BAIL MONEY SCAMS Spotting the Scam How it Works You receive a phone call from someone claiming they are in law

enforcement, a lawyer or even a grandchild/family member. The fraudster will tell you that they have been involved in legal trouble, are in jail, or in urgent need of money. They will then ask for a payment that is required immediately in order for the family member to avoid jail time. If the victim agrees, suspects will arrange to pick up the funds in person, ask the victim to send cash - or even their credit cards and PIN #’s - through the mail. The caller will ask you not to discuss these details with anyone and may even encourage lying to the bank when withdrawing the funds. The caller may also advise to abide by a “gag” order that must not be discussed publically, or else their relative that is supposedly in custody will not be released.

The pressure to act fast, along with confusing instructions, can make it hard to focus and rationalize what is happening.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, call and report the incident to your local police.

Fall 2026

IF YOU GET A CALL: • HANG UP. Call your grandchild directly, another family member or person you trust to make sure they’re safe. Be suspicious of calls that require immediate action. • IF THE SCAMMERS HAVE YOUR ADDRESS and are sending someone to your home to pick up money, or if you feel unsafe, please call 911 to report a fraud in progress. • IF YOU DID NOT LOSE MONEY: Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll-free at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentrecentreantifraude.ca. • IF YOU HAVE LOST MONEY: Please call the RCMP at (604)-985-1311.

ROMANCE SCAMS

There is a growing number of seniors who are turning to the internet to find love. Unfortunately, scammers know this and use every type of dating or social networking site to seek out potential victims.

The scammer will gain the trust of the victim through displays of affection and will communicate through the phone and email for months if needed to build that trust. The scammer will claim to be located in a foreign country

and will always come up with an excuse to prevent face-to-face interactions. The scammer will ask for money using excuses such as not having enough money to travel to come visit or having medical expenses they cannot pay. ❱❱

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PREVENTION TIPS: • Don’t give out any personal information in an email or when you are chatting online with a stranger. • Be careful communicating with someone who claims to fall in love with you quickly. • Don’t accept any funds or send the

person any money for any reasons. • Beware of fake dating sites. Scammers will host and create fake accounts to lure potential victims.

EXTORTION SCAMS

An extortion scam is when any person unlawfully obtains money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution,

through coercion. There are many variations of extortion scams but the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) scheme are the most prevalent ones. Seniors are being targeted by fraudsters impersonating real government officials. Scammers are using phone calls or email to lure people into giving personal information, passwords and financial data from individuals. For example: • There is a notification by phone or email from the “CRA” claiming there is a refund pending. In order for the recipient to receive the refund personal information is requested. • A notification by phone or email is received about “back taxes” owed as the result of an audit. The payment must be made immediately to avoid a fine, and in some cases, individuals are told they will be arrested or deported if the taxes aren’t paid right away.

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PREVENTION TIPS: • Government agencies won’t threaten you or ask for payment by prepaid credit card, or a money wire service such as MoneyGram or Western Union.

credit card account and requesting your credit card number. • Verify any calls with your credit card company by calling the phone number on the back of your credit card.

• Contact the real agency or company to confirm that you owe back taxes or have an unpaid balance, or are entitled to a refund.

• Only your credit card company can lower your interest rate.

• Ask yourself why an employee would be asking for personal information over the phone that they likely already have on file for you.

Scammers can use the Internet to promote fraud through unsolicited or junk emails, known as spam. Even if they only get a handful of replies from the millions of emails they send out, it is still worth their while. Be wary of replying, even just to “unsubscribe,” because that will give a scammer confirmation that they have reached a real email address. Any email you receive could be spam if it comes from a sender you don’t know, isn’t specifically addressed to you, and/ or promises you some benefit. Malicious software - Scammers try to install this software on your computer so that they can gain access to files stored on your computer and other personal details and passwords. Scammers use a

SERVICE SCAMS

A service scam is any false, deceptive, or misleading promotion or solicitations for paid services. The two most reported service scams targeting Canadians are the antivirus software scam (Microsoft/ Windows Technician) and lower interest rate scams. The scammers involved in the antivirus software scam promise to repair your computer over the internet. This can involve the installation of software or permission to have remote access to your computer. Downloading software from an unknown source or allowing someone to remotely access your computer is risky because they may be used to capture your personal information. The people behind lower interest rate scams often impersonate financial institutions and claim to negotiate with credit card companies to lower your interest rates. They guarantee they can save you thousands of dollars in interest. The caller will tell you that the lower interest rates are for a limited time only and that you need to act now. In addition, the scammer will request a “one time” upfront fee to process the lower interest.

INTERNET SCAMS

wide range of tricks to get their software onto your computer. They may trick you into clicking on a link or pop-up message in a spam email, or by getting you to visit a fake website set up solely to infect people’s computers. Phishing scams are all about tricking you into handing over your personal and banking details to scammers. The emails you receive might look and sound legitimate but genuine organizations like a bank or a government authority never request personal information by an email or online. Delete phishing emails. They can carry viruses that can infect your computer. Don’t open any attachments or follow any links in phishing emails. Online auctions and Internet shopping can attract scammers. Scammers will often try to get you to deal outside of online auction sites. They may claim the winner of an auction that you were bidding on has pulled out and offer the item to you. Once you have paid, you will never hear from them again and the auction site won’t be able to help you. ❱❱

PREVENTION TIPS: • No legitimate company will call and claim your computer is infected with a virus. • If you are having problems with your operating system, bring it to a local technician. • Beware of scammers advising you of an unauthorized charge on your

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PREVENTION TIPS: • Secure your computer by activating your firewall and using an anti-virus/malware software. • Keep your operating system current with the latest system update. • Set your social networking profiles to private. • Only use payment methods recommended by the Internet auction site.

MONEY TRANSFER REQUESTS

The Nigerian scam (also called the 419 fraud) has been on the rise since the early-to-mid 1990s in Canada. Although many of these sorts of scams originated in Nigeria, similar scams have been started all over the world. These scams are increasingly referred to as “advance fee fraud.” Typically, you receive an email or letter from a scammer asking your help to transfer a large amount of money overseas. You are then offered a share of the money if you agree to give them your bank account details to help with the transfer. They will then ask you to pay all kinds of taxes and fees before you can receive your “reward.” You will never be sent any of the money, and will lose the fees you paid. Then there is the scam email that claims to be from a lawyer or bank representative advising that a long-lost relative of yours has died and left you a huge inheritance. The “inheritance” is likely to be non-existent and, as well as losing any money you might have paid to the scammer in fees and taxes, you could also risk having your identity stolen. If you are selling products or services online or through newspaper classifieds, you may be targeted by an overpayment scam. You may receive payment from a customer by cheque or money order, but the amount you receive is more than the agreed price. If you are asked to refund the excess amount by money transfer, be suspicious. The scammer is hoping that you will transfer the refund before you discover that their cheque or money

order was counterfeit. You will lose the transferred money as well as the item if you have already sent it.

PREVENTION TIPS: • Be wary if approached by someone asking you to transfer money for them. • Never send money, or give credit card or account details to anyone you don’t know and trust. • Don’t accept a cheque or money order for payment for goods that is more than what you agreed upon. Send it back and ask the buyer to send you payment for the agreed amount before you deliver the goods or services. • Don’t reply to any email that requests your personal information.

CHARITY SCAMS

Charity scams take advantage of people’s generosity and kindness by asking for donations to a fake charity or by impersonating a real charity. They involve scammers collecting money by pretending to be a real charity. The scammers can approach you in many different ways—on the street, at your home, over the phone, or on the Internet.

Emails and collection boxes may even be marked with the logos of genuine charities. Not only do these scams cost people money; they also divert much needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes. You can check for registered charities by searching in the CRA database, or contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they have any information about the organizations that interest you. If you don’t want to donate any money, simply ignore the email or letter, hang up the phone, or say no to the person at your door. You don’t have to give any money at all.

PREVENTION TIPS: • If you have any doubts at all about the person asking for money, don’t give them any cash, credit card or bank account details. • Never give out your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source. • If in doubt, approach an aid organization directly to make a donation or offer support. ❱❱ Fall 2026

PRIZE SCAMS

In lottery or sweepstake scams, seniors are solicited over the phone or email and advised that they are the winner. Prior to receiving any winnings, they are told they must first pay an upfront fee or provide personal information. No winnings are ever received. You can’t win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You shouldn’t have to pay any fee or tax to claim a legitimate prize. A fake prize scam will tell you that you have won a prize or a contest. You may receive a phone call, an email, a text message or see a pop-up screen on your computer. The scammers make their money by making you pay fees or taxes, call their premium rate phone numbers or send premium text messages to claim your prize. These premium rate calls can be very expensive, and the scammers will try to keep you on the line for a long time or ask you to call a different premium rate number.

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PREVENTION TIPS: • Legitimate lotteries don’t require you to pay a fee or tax to collect a winning. • Never send money, or give credit card or account details to anyone you don’t know and trust. • Examine all of the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully—claims of free or very cheap offers often have hidden costs. Calls to premium rate phone numbers or premium text messages can be very expensive. • You can’t win money or a prize in a contest unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf.

INVESTMENT SCAMS

Any false, deceptive, misleading or fraudulent investment opportunity, often offering higher than normal true monetary returns. In a typical pyramid scheme, unsuspecting investors are encouraged to pay large

membership fees to participate in money-making ventures. The only way for you to ever recover any money is to convince other people to join and to part with their money

as well. People are often persuaded to join by family members or friends. But there is no guarantee that you will recoup your initial investment. ❱❱

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Ponzi schemes are fraudulent investment operations that work in a similar way to pyramid schemes. The Ponzi scheme usually entices investors by offering abnormally high, shortterm returns that are unusually consistent. The schemer usually interacts with all the investors directly, often persuading most of the existing participants to reinvest their money, thereby minimizing the need to bring in new participants.

PREVENTION TIPS:

Although pyramid schemes are often cleverly disguised, they make money by recruiting people rather than by selling a legitimate product or providing a service. Pyramid schemes inevitably collapse and you will lose your money. In Canada, it is a crime to promote a pyramid scheme or even to participate in one.

• Pyramid and Ponzi schemes may be sent to you from family members and people you trust. They might not know they’re involved in an illegal scam. • Be wary of fraudsters requesting large wire transfers to foreign countries for an offshore investment. • Never commit to anything at highpressure meetings or seminars. • Be wary of fraudsters promising

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an investment opportunity with a higher than normal return. • Be an informed investor and check with you provincial securities regulator.

MEDICAL SCAMS

Miracle cure scams offer a range of products and services that can appear to be legitimate alternative medicines, usually promising quick and effective remedies for serious medical conditions. The treatments claim to be effective against a very wide range of ailments and are often promoted using testimonials from people who have used the product or service and have been “cured.” Weight loss scams promise dramatic weight loss with little or no effort. The products are promoted with the use of false claims such as “lose 10 kilos in 10 days” or “lose weight while you sleep,” and often require large advance payments or that you enter into a long-term contract to participate in the program.

Fake online pharmacies use the Internet and spam emails to offer drugs and medicine at very cheap prices and/or without the need for a prescription from a doctor. If you use such a service, there is no guarantee that you will receive the medication or that the medication is real. There are legitimate online pharmacies but they will require a valid prescription before they send out any medicine that requires one.

PREVENTION TIPS: • There are no magic pills, miracle cures or safe options for serious medical conditions or rapid weight loss. • Don’t trust an unsubstantiated claim about medicines, supplements or other treatments. Consult your healthcare professional. • Check for published medical and research papers to verify the accuracy of the claims made by the promoters.

IDENTITY CRIMES

Identity crimes have become an increasingly popular crime as a result of continuous advances in technology. Identity thieves are stealing, misrepresenting or hijacking the identity of another person or business which provide them effective means to commit other crimes. Vital information such as name, address, date of birth, social insurance number, and mother’s maiden name need to be acquired in order to complete the impersonation. Identity thieves can take over the victim’s financial accounts, open new bank accounts, transfer bank balances, apply for loans, and so on. The true owner may be liable for these activities.

• Treat your personal details like you would treat money: don’t leave them lying around for others to take. • Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards and any discrepancies in your monthly statements.

BANK CARD COLLECTION SCAM

One relatively new scam to be aware of involves bank cards and credit cards. Typically, fraudsters posing as banks call individuals and advise them to cut up their banking and credit cards. The fraudsters then send someone to their house to pick up the destroyed cards, claiming that it is for security purposes. These scammers are able to access bank accounts and purchase items with the destroyed cards, often before the individual is able to cancel their accounts. Please be cautious when speaking to anyone posing as your bank on the phone, and remember that your bank will never send someone to collect your bank card.

TEXTING SCAMS: WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON YOUR PHONE

More seniors than ever are using mobile phones—and unfortunately, fraudsters know it. Text message scams often look like messages from a government agency or utility company offering refunds or demanding urgent action. These scammers may even fake caller ID to make it seem more believable. Never click on links in unexpected texts, and don’t respond to

messages from unknown numbers. When in doubt, contact the company directly using a trusted number—your caution could stop a scam in its tracks.

CRA SCAMS ARE STILL MAKING THE ROUNDS

Even though many of us have heard of CRA scams, they continue to be a common trap. Fraudsters may call, email, or text pretending to be from the Canada Revenue Agency, often using pressure tactics or threats of arrest. The CRA will never ask for payment in gift cards, crypto, or by text. If you’re unsure, hang up and call the CRA directly using their official number. And remember, there’s no shame in being targeted— reach out for support if it happens to you.

CHATGPT AND AI: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TYPE

ChatGPT is a free and helpful tool for everyday tasks like writing letters, finding recipes, or exploring new ideas. However, it is not always accurate and should never replace professional advice. Think of it like a public noticeboard—anything you type could potentially be seen by others. That’s why it’s essential to avoid entering personal details like your SIN, home address, or banking information. Stay safe by keeping your questions general and never sharing sensitive data. 1 Source for content under Fraud and Scams section: Little Black Book of Scams (Competition Bureau), Scam Digests and SeniorToolkit (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre).

PREVENTION TIPS: • Only give out personal details and information where it is absolutely necessary and when you trust the person you are speaking to or dealing with. • Destroy personal information: You should cut up or shred old bills, statements or cards. Fall 2026

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