Imposter Scams In Canada

Imposter scams can take place mainly though the phone, but can also be conducted through email and mail [1]. Anyone can be targeted in these imposter scams, but some groups are more vulnerable than others. The most vulnerable group throughout Canada and the US are the elderly. The grandparents is a common imposter scam that is a form of telephone fraud where the imposter poses as a family member phoning the grandparent claiming they are in trouble and urgently need money [2]. A number of different scenarios can be implemented such as, car accidents, drug charges, etc [2]. They are prompted to wire money to the family member and often instructed not to tell other members of the family. The biggest security measure that can be taken to protect those targeted in imposter scams is public education and awareness. …show more content…
Increased personal security measures and regulation can also protect individuals from scams. Other similar imposter scams include IRS and government imposter scams. IRS imposter scams pose as the IRS calling to say you owe them money and if not paid you will be charged and arrested [3]. They request either a money transfer or a prepaid debit card to be sent to them immediately [3]. IRS imposter scams can be identified because the IRS would notify owed money through mail, not by phone; also, they would not require a specific method of payment [3]. Government imposter scams have a variety of scenarios – some may be federally supervised lottery or sweepstakes, national consumer protection agencies, or owing government debt