Canada and the US have similar cultures, love of sports, and a shared border.
Fraud schemes that target people in both countries are unfortunately not stopped by the border. Con artists use the Internet and cell phones to find victims across borders. Many of these victims are older Americans. They hide who they are and where they are by using fake names and electronic tricks.
The good news is that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working with Canadian police to stop these crimes. Still, the best medicine is still to avoid getting sick. Chief Postal Inspector L.R. Heath tells people that they can protect themselves by doing the following:
Be wary of anything that promises you a lot of money in exchange for your advance payment, donation, or investment, like a sweepstakes or lottery win.
Don't feel like you have to decide quickly about an offer. First, check it out.
Be wary of businesses that try to hide their mailing addresses and phone numbers and don't want to answer questions about how they do business.
Be aware that these criminals will add your name to a "mooch" list if you respond to even one of these "offers." These are contact lists, like the ones that real businesses use, that keep track of people who have been scammed before. These criminal businesses buy and sell them, so you can expect to be targeted again.
Consumer Advocate Delores J. Killette of the Postal Service said, "Older Americans need to be taught about consumer fraud and persuaded that it's okay to say "no" to people who want to sell them things. But their children, many of whom were born during the baby boom, also need to do something. They need to keep an eye on their elderly parents and grandparents so that scammers don't take advantage of them. Getting rid of fraud really is a family business." Families who are educated are the best defence against these scammers, as long as they know how to spot the warning signs.
