Category: News

Happy Holidays from O55 & Neighbourhood Watch London!

We hope you have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. And that you are looking forward to a prosperous new year.

Holiday Scam Prevention

Fraudsters don’t take a holiday, so it’s important to recognize scams that are especially prevalent during the holiday season. Here are some of the practices on the “naughty list”.

• Advertisments  on social media. If you’re unsure about an ad, check for the similar product on a trusted website, or find the company online at its real IP address to see if it’s offering the same product at the advertised price.
• Gift card scams. Watch out for high service fees. Consider buying cards at a physical location such as a retail store.
• Fake charities. Scammers exploit the spirit of holiday giving through fake online charities and phony requests by phone. Research the charity, and don’t give money to unsolicited callers who demand immediate payment. 

For ongoing information about fraud prevention and reporting visit the  Canadian Anti Fraud Centre website.

Preventing Porch Theft

Online shopping is especially popular during the holiday season. But according to a 2019 survey conducted for FedEx, 68% of Canadians asked said they were concerned about porch pirates. A further 29% said they had experienced package theft. 

Here are some ways to reduce the risk of having your packages stolen.

• Install a security camera.
• Opt in for notifications on your package to keep up with tracking.
• Use package redirecting if you will not be home to receive the package. Set delivery instructions and preferences on where to leave the package at your doorstep.
• Require a photo for proof of delivery.
• Require a signature upon delivery.

The 12 Days of Safety

Think about safety in and around your home. Here are some tips from Health Canada:

• When buying a real tree make sure it’s fresh. The needles should be hard to pull out. Water the tree daily once indoors.
• Use lights with an accredited certification such as CSA. Ensure indoor lights are only used indoors, and check light strings and extensions to make sure they’re not frayed.
• Make sure toys are age-appropriate to prevent choking hazards. 

Check out the Government of Canada website. Tips For Holiday Safety

Be Road Ready

The holidays are a time to visit friends and family. And that often means taking road trips. Driving according to road conditions and having a well-maintained vehicle are important. But if the unexpected happens, it’s a good idea to have emergency supplies in the trunk of your car.  These include:

• Sand, salt or cat litter (non-clumping)
• Antifreeze and windshield washer fluid
• Tow rope
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• Warning light or road flares

For more tips and  information, visit the Government of Canada website:

Get Prepared

And finally, we wish all of you a safe and happy holiday, and an excellent 2024.

Welcome to fall! It’s a busy time of the year as students return to class, and we dive into those yard and garden cleanup projects. We hope you have a safe and happy autumn.

Back to School Safety Tips

London police are reminding motorists to slow down and be alert for children heading to school. There will also be an increased police presence on the roads to ensure safety. Police are reminding parents to make sure safety is top of mind for their children. 

• Establish the safest route to school or the bus stop
• Encourage children to stick to the route and avoid short cuts
• Always walk on the sidewalk or away from the roadway

London police are also reminding parents to make sure their children are cyber safe. 

• Have age appropriate conversations about digital use with children
• Establish your household expectations about things like text messages, location information sharing, etc.
• Explore parental controls to monitor what children can access through device management programs such as parental controls

For more safety information visit Back to School Safety Tips

Fraud Awareness

We’ve all been following the news about the wildfire situation in Yellowknife, Kelowna and other parts of Canada.  But the Canada Revenue Agency wants us to be careful not to fall victim to fraudsters. Here’s a recent tweet from the CRA. 

https://twitter.com/CanRevAgency/status/1697670842895806898

The CRA also wants us to be aware of other scams that are circulating, including fraudsters sending text messages and emails related to the Grocery Rebate.

For updated fraud warnings visit: CRA Fraud Warnings 

In the news….

A Windsor man says he fell victim to an online trading scam. According to a report on CTV Windsor, the man got a phone call from a so-called investment firm, asking if he “wanted to make money.” After giving them funds, he later noticed that his line of credit and his VISA account had been accessed. For the full story, click here:

Windsor man says he lost $75,000 in online trading scam | CTV News

An Oakville senior also recently fell victim to the bank inspector scam. This type of fraud has been around for a while, and often involves the victim getting a phone call from someone purporting to be from their bank. The victim is then asked to withdraw money in the guise of “helping” the fraudster uncover financial misdoings at the bank.  

Ontario senior loses $16,500 to bank investigator scam | CTV News

London Neighbourhood Decision Making

Do you have a great idea for a neighbourhood improvement project? The City of London wants to hear from you. Applications are being accepted until September 29th for Neighbourhood Decision Making 2023. The city is making available $250,000 for projects designed to enhance neighbourhoods across the city.  This could include anything from streetlights to playground upgrades. For more information and to submit an application go to the City of London website. 

Get Involved London 

Fall Cleanup

The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and for many of us that means yard cleanup. According to the U.S.-based Aurora Health Care enews, an estimated 143,000 Americans end up in hospital emergency rooms each year from an injury related to caring for their lawn. To stay safe while doing yard work this fall, here are some tips:

1. Do not twist your body while raking. For example:
   1. Use your legs to shift your weight rather than your back.
   1. Avoid throwing leaves over your shoulder or to the side, which can cause twisting and muscle strains in your back.
2. Use the right-sized rake for your height and strength.
3. Warm up with some light stretching for 10 minutes prior to raking.

For the more yard cleanup safety tips visit:

10 Tips For An Injury-Free Fall Cleanup

And finally……

A Cambridge OPP officer got more than he bargained for during a routine traffic stop on the side of the highway last month. While stopping a driver, a kitten emerged from the nearby tall grass and sat at the officer’s feet. The driver was given a warning, and the kitten was rescued.

Until next newsletter, we hope that you stay safe and healthy.

– Sincerely, the Over 55 & Neighbourhood Watch London Team

Summer is often the time for home renovations. But did you know that home improvement was the top scam for Canadians last year according to the Better Business Bureau?

The BBB numbers are troubling:

• People targeted lost an average of $1,900 in 2022.
• Reports of home improvement scams to the BBB climbed from 4th place in 2021 to the top spot.

Check out this link to CityNews Calgary. Canada’s top scam is home improvement: Better Business Bureau

How can people protect themselves?  Here are some tips

• Initiate contact with the contractor yourself.
• Check the background of the company you plan to hire.
• Resist high pressure sales tactics.

There’s more from a news article in British Columbia’s The Province. Beware: Spring is the target season for home renovation scams

April showers….May flowers….June blooms….and staying safe while doing those seasonal cleaning chores. Here’s expert advice on prevention from Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital.

• When cleaning eavestrough place ladders on solid footing and have a spotter.
• Do a quick check of the backyard for stones, debris or garbage that might be tripping hazards;
• Check BBQ for small animals that may have blocked gas lines. 

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

#endbiketheft

The hashtag says it all. Many of us like to get out on our bikes in the warmer months. London police want to curb bike thefts, and they’re encouraging people to register their bikes by using a special app. “The app works to alert other London-area cyclists any time a bike is stolen or goes missing. Once the user determines his or her bike is missing, they activate an alert notification to 529 Garage, which sends out a broadcast to all users in the area to be on the lookout for the missing bicycle. This information, along with a police report, helps us recover your bike in the case of theft.” London Police

For information and to register go to: 529 Garage Bike Registry

‘Where are you coming from? Where are you going to? What’s the last road you were on?’ These are questions to ask yourself if you need assistance from 911 when you’re on the road in an unfamiliar location, such as a country backroad.  Here’s a timely tweet from OPP with a link to a video with advice on how to help yourself in an emergency.

Be sure to RSVP!

---

Fraud is the #1 crime against Canadian seniors. And it can take many forms such as identity theft, credit or debit card fraud, as well as phone or door-to-door scams, and more. We invite you to join us virtually on Thursday June 23, 2022 at 7 p.m. for a live webinar;  Seniors & Fraud Prevention, brought to you through the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada’s financial literacy program.  Our featured presenter is Roshan Quraishi, CPA CMA. Roshan has more than 10 years experience in the financial sector, and he is currently Senior Financial Consultant for William Osler Health Systems.

Topics that will be covered in the webinar will help you:

• understand what fraud is and how it works
• learn how to identify the signs of fraud and how to act on suspicions
• learn about the top three scams
• understand why seniors are targeted
• know what to do if you are a victim of fraud

We kindly request that you pre-register, as there are resource materials that will be emailed to you prior to the webinar. Upon registration, you will then be emailed the coordinates that will enable you to attend the live webinar.