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Posted on07 June 2011
June 5th to 11th is Seniors’ Week
Written by Michelle
In British Columbia, the first week of June has been proclaimed Seniors’ Week. The provincial government has created a great website for seniors called Seniors BC which can be found at http://www.seniorsbc.ca/. On this site you will find information geared towards seniors about topics such as finance, transportation and healthy eating.
Seniors can also access the provincial government’s Health & Seniors Information Line toll free at 1-800-465-4911.
Consumer Protection BC celebrates seniors too. In the past, we have gathered consumer tips and scam warnings that may be of particularly interest to seniors. Here are some links to that information:
Deceptive Mailouts
Have you ever received a notice in the mail saying that you have won a lottery and need to send a small fee to the business in order to claim your prize? The bottom line is that you should never have to pay up front for any prize. Click here for more information on deceptive mailouts.
The Grandparent Scam
In this scenario, a grandparent will receive a call from someone claiming to be their grandchild. This “grandchild” is in some type of trouble and needs money right away. Often the grandparent will send a money transfer in an effort to help their “grandchild” without realizing that they are actually speaking with a con-artist. Click here to read more about this type of scam.
For more information on common scams, check out the Top 10 Scams list for 2011 (a publication developed by the Better Business Bureau with our collaboration). If you ever need to confirm the legitimacy of a business please feel free to contact Consumer Protection BC by phone at 1-888-564-9963 or by email at
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. Happy Seniors’ Week!
Published in Tips.
Michelle
Michelle works in the Consumer Protection BC Inquiry Centre. She answers calls and emails from consumers and businesses on a wide variety of topics which makes her the perfect person to share her knowledge and experiences with you.
