Fraud continues to surge in Canada, with older adults disproportionately targeted by scammers and fraudsters.

In 2024, Canadians reported over $638 million in fraud losses, a figure widely regarded as underreported due to stigma and unawareness. Seniors, often living alone or managing fixed incomes, are especially vulnerable to complex and emotionally manipulative schemes.

As the fraud landscape evolves, so too must the legal response. Fraud litigators, forensic experts, and elder law practitioners are now indispensable in fraud prevention, asset recovery, and public education.

Key Fraud Schemes Impacting Canadian Seniors

Older Canadians face a broadening range of scams, many with devastating financial and emotional consequences:

1. Grandparent and Impersonation Scams

Fraudsters pose as relatives or authority figures (e.g., police, CRA agents) needing urgent financial help or threatening arrest unless money is transferred immediately.

2. Romance and Investment Scams

Scammers use social media or dating platforms to gain emotional trust and solicit funds for fake business ventures or emergencies.

3. Renovation and Home Service Scams

One of the most underreported yet damaging types of fraud. Seniors are approached by unscrupulous contractors offering urgent repairs — often for:

• Roofing
• Driveways
• Furnace replacements
• Mold remediation

Victims are either overcharged, left with incomplete work, or coerced into repeated payments under threat of further damage or fines.

4. Cryptocurrency and Tech Support Fraud

Scams involving fake “tech support” and crypto investments are rising, with seniors often targeted via pop-up messages or unsolicited phone calls.

Law Enforcement and Institutional Response

1. Police and Federal Agencies

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), RCMP, and local police services have increased enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns. Cross-border investigations and major sting operations have led to charges in multi-million dollar grandparent scam cases.

Police have issued new guidance to seniors on spotting contractor red flags, such as demands for cash up front, lack of permits, and pressure for same-day decisions.

2. Financial Institutions

Banks are increasingly proactive, employing AI-driven alerts and manual review protocols to spot unusual senior transactions — particularly wire transfers and repeated payments to unknown entities.

Institutions like TD Bank and RBC are also training staff to detect red flags in elder financial abuse and referring suspected fraud to legal and law enforcement channels.

Legal Industry’s Expanding Role

Fraud Litigators

With the growing scale of senior-targeted scams, fraud litigators are:

• Pursuing civil actions against fraudulent contractors, including recovery of funds, punitive damages, and injunctive relief.
• Filing Mareva injunctions to freeze assets of suspected fraudsters before dissipation.
• Litigating insurance claims when policies (e.g., home insurance) are denied due to fraudulent contractor involvement.
• Supporting class actions where organized fraud networks are uncovered.

Investigators and Forensic Experts

Forensic accountants and private investigators assist counsel in:

• Tracing assets (bank accounts, crypto wallets, real property)
• Authenticating fraudulent invoices and falsified contracts
• Providing expert testimony in both criminal and civil trials
• Coordinating with local building inspectors and municipal enforcement on home reno fraud cases

Best Practices for Legal Professionals

To better serve senior clients and their families, legal professionals should:

• Review contracts for home services or renovations for exploitative clauses
• Encourage use of independent legal advice (ILA) before signing major financial agreements
• Educate clients on spotting fake identities and social engineering tactics
• Establish joint reporting protocols with banks, contractors’ associations, and law enforcement

Calls for Legal and Policy Reform

The rise in home service frauds has prompted calls for:

• Mandatory licensing of home contractors in all provinces
• Enhanced penalties for elder-targeted fraud
• Centralized contractor complaint databases accessible to the public
• Greater funding for legal aid to support seniors pursuing civil fraud actions

Bar associations and elder law clinics have advocated for simplified small claims procedures for victims seeking to recover from fraudulent home service providers.

Conclusion: A Call For Protection

Fraud against Canadian seniors including in-home service scams is reaching crisis levels. Legal professionals must be at the forefront of prevention, litigation, and policy reform. Through collaboration with police, financial institutions, and community organizations, the legal industry plays a vital role in protecting vulnerable populations and restoring public confidence.