TVA Fraud: Montreal Woman Exposes Elder Fraud Scheme Targeting Vulnerable Seniors

A Montreal resident, Mélanie Nadeau, is speaking out after a brazen attempt to defraud her elderly mother, Diane Prévost, who suffers from dementia. The incident highlights the growing threat of TVA (Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax)-related fraud targeting seniors.

According to Nadeau, her mother received a phone call on Wednesday afternoon informing her of suspicious activity on her bank account. The caller claimed to need her card and PIN to resolve the issue. Knowing her mother’s cognitive decline, Nadeau was immediately alarmed. “It’s disgusting. He entered her home, found her in bed with oxygen connected to her face,” Nadeau stated, visibly upset.

The Deceptive Scheme Unfolds

Within 20 minutes of the initial call, a man dressed in black and wearing sunglasses arrived at Prévost’s Montreal home. Nadeau had installed a surveillance camera near her mother’s bed, providing crucial evidence of the unfolding scam. The footage shows the fraudster attempting to obtain the PIN from the confused 75-year-old.

Fortunately, Nadeau possessed the PIN and was contacted by her mother during the encounter. The fraudster, posing as a representative from Desjardins, attempted to convince Nadeau to reveal the PIN, claiming it was necessary to “eliminate cloned cards in circulation.”

“I told him to leave the premises and that the police were on their way. He hung up on me and left,” Nadeau recounted. She promptly filed a report with the Montreal Police Service (SPVM).

Desjardins Warns Against False Representatives

Véronique Blais, a spokesperson for Desjardins, confirmed that this incident is a clear case of a false representative. “Desjardins employees never visit members or clients at their homes for these types of transactions,” she emphasized. Desjardins urges customers to be vigilant and never share personal information with unsolicited visitors.

A Growing Trend of Elder Fraud

This incident is not isolated. A recent investigation revealed a 14-fold increase in charges related to this type of crime between 2019 and 2024. Sylvain Paquette, a fraud prevention expert with Pointages, explains that street gangs are increasingly funding their operations through online fraud and elder fraud, exploiting the vulnerability of seniors.

“Being close to your parents can help thwart fraudsters,” Paquette advises. “Having shared passwords and codes for identity verification can be beneficial. I also believe it’s better for seniors to revert to simpler phones – just for calls and texts – when a smartphone isn’t necessary.”

Protecting Your Loved Ones

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable seniors from fraud. Here are some key takeaways:

• Never share personal or financial information over the phone or with unsolicited visitors.
• Be wary of urgent requests for information.
• Install security cameras to monitor the well-being of elderly relatives.
• Maintain open communication with loved ones about potential scams.
• Report any suspicious activity to the police and your financial institution.

By staying informed and vigilant, we can help protect our loved ones from becoming victims of these devastating scams.