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Elder Fraud Alert: How Scammers Are Weaponizing Health and Trust

Imagine receiving a frantic call from your grandson, his voice panicked. He’s in trouble, desperate for money, and begs you not to tell anyone. You act immediately because family always comes first. Only later do you realize it wasn’t your grandson at all. You’ve been scammed.

This isn’t fiction. It’s happening right now, and older Canadians are the primary targets.

How Serious Is the Problem?

In 2024 alone, Canadians lost over $638 million to fraud, and older adults are disproportionately affected. Why? Because scammers deliberately target older adults who are home more often, tend to answer unknown calls, and may not have immediate access to tech-savvy family members to verify suspicious interactions.

Even more alarming, scams targeting health and medical trust are skyrocketing. Fraudsters are leveraging fears around health, medical expenses, and family emergencies to steal millions from unsuspecting Canadians.

The Health Scam Epidemic: Canadians Losing Millions

Medical scams have exploded since the pandemic, targeting seniors hardest. Even if you’re tech-savvy or cautious, scammers have found sophisticated ways to trick you often by exploiting your trust in healthcare.

Here are the biggest healthcare scams fooling Canadians right now:

Fake Prescription Scams

These fraudsters pretend to represent legitimate pharmacies, healthcare agencies, or government programs, offering you discounted medications, exclusive rebates, or claiming your prescription coverage has changed. Once you hand over your health or payment details, scammers drain your accounts or steal your identity.

Red Flag: Urgent requests for personal or payment info to secure a “limited-time” deal.

Health Card and Medicare Fraud

Scammers pose as government healthcare officials, claiming they need to urgently “update” your health card details. Whether through a convincing phone call, text, or email, they gather your sensitive information to commit identity theft.

Red Flag: Unexpected calls demanding personal details to prevent “losing coverage.”

Phishing Emails from Fake Clinics

Emails designed to look like they’re coming from well-known clinics, hospitals, or government health agencies trick you into clicking malicious links or downloading infected attachments—compromising your devices, personal data, and finances.

Red Flag: Emails urging you to click a link immediately for “test results” or “vital health information.”

Healthcare Data Breaches: Your Health Records at Risk

While scams typically involve criminals trying to trick you directly, there’s another growing threat that you might not even know about—major data breaches at trusted healthcare providers. Over the past two years, health data breaches have skyrocketed across Canada, exposing millions of personal health records and putting Canadians at serious risk for identity theft and fraud.

Recent High-Profile Breaches

In March 2025, Ontario Health atHome suffered a significant data breach through a third-party vendor, exposing sensitive personal information of more than 200,000 Ontarians, including names, addresses, health numbers, and in some cases, detailed medical histories. Shockingly, many affected patients weren’t notified until months later, leaving them unknowingly vulnerable to identity theft and financial fraud for weeks.

And this wasn’t an isolated incident. According to a June 2025 report the healthcare sector experienced a 16.7% increase in breaches compared to the previous month alone, exposing over 7.6 million records globally, many of which belonged to Canadians.

What This Means for You

When your health information is compromised, it doesn’t just put your medical privacy at risk. It also exposes you to sophisticated scams, fraudulent billing, and even identity theft, which can have devastating personal and financial consequences.

Hackers can sell medical records on the dark web for far more money than simple financial data because they contain extensive personal details—from prescription medications and health conditions to insurance and billing information. Once compromised, your medical identity can be misused to:

  • Obtain fraudulent medical services or prescriptions in your name
  • File fake insurance claims
  • Commit tax fraud or credit fraud using your personal information

Emotional AI Scamming: The Grandparent Scam Goes High-Tech

The most sinister evolution in elder fraud involves Artificial Intelligence. Criminals now use voice-cloning technology to imitate loved ones in distress, most notoriously, grandchildren. Known as the “grandparent scam,” these attacks are sophisticated, emotionally charged, and incredibly effective.

In early 2025, Montreal police dismantled an operation that scammed seniors out of $21 million using voice fraud. Victims believed their grandchildren were in desperate situations, sending thousands of dollars to criminals. One grandmother lost $25,000 within hours, convinced she was rescuing her granddaughter.

These AI-driven scams don’t just rob seniors of their savings; they leave deep emotional scars and shatter families’ trust.

 

Red Flags: How to Recognize Health and Emotional Fraud

Stay vigilant by recognizing these common warning signs:

  • Urgent Requests: Scammers pressure victims with urgency, making them panic and act without thinking.
  • Secrecy Demands: Requests to “keep it quiet” or “don’t tell mom or dad” are classic red flags in grandparent scams.
  • Strange Payment Methods: Requests for wire transfers, prepaid cards, or cash courier pickups.
  • Unfamiliar Numbers or Emails: Communications from unknown numbers or emails resembling trusted organizations but slightly off (misspellings or odd domain names).

 

Protect Yourself and Loved Ones

Take proactive steps to safeguard your family:

  • Verification is Crucial: Always confirm urgent calls with direct contact numbers you already have—not the number provided by the caller.
  • Guard Personal Information: Never share your SIN, health card numbers, bank details, or passwords over the phone or email.
  • Regular Family Check-Ins: Set monthly “fraud check-ins” with your family. Discuss recent scams and ensure everyone, especially older adults, knows the latest tricks.
  • Use Fraud Resources: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) provides valuable resources and real-time fraud alerts to keep you informed.

Monthly Health and Financial Security Check

Just as you’d routinely check your health, consider doing a monthly financial and identity safety check:

  • Review Bank Statements: Regularly monitor for unfamiliar transactions.
  • Check Credit Reports: Look for unusual activity or unauthorized accounts.
  • Verify Medical Claims: Ensure all medical claims and prescriptions listed are accurate and recognizable.

Protecting Your Health and Trust

Fraud prevention isn’t just about financial security; it’s essential to your emotional and physical well-being. Protecting yourself and your family from scams preserves trust, dignity, and peace of mind.

If you suspect fraud, report it immediately to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and contact your local police. Quick reporting can protect others from falling victim and increase your chances of recovering stolen funds.

Stay informed, stay vigilant, and reach out to your trusted healthcare provider whenever you’re in doubt.

 

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