Seniors' safety academy begins with scam and fraud awareness
Const. Frank Girhiny, Bridgewater Police Service and Lisa Bennett, Lunenburg County Seniors’ Safety Co-ordinator present during a recent safety academy session for older adults.
Lisa Bennett, Lunenburg County Seniors’ Safety Co-ordinator.
Older adults recently had a chance to sharpen their digital skills as the annual (and free) fall seniors’ safety academy got underway at the fire station. A session about scam and fraud prevention led off the weekly program, which wraps up Oct. 29.
The academy began Sept. 24, led by Lisa Bennett, Lunenburg County’s seniors’ safety coordinator. Const. Frank Girhiny, Bridgewater Police Service’s school safety resource officer, presented, as well, offering a law enforcement perspective and recommendations on how to combat common financial-related scams.
Recent figures from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre show fraudulent activity continues to reel in millions of dollars and, in the process, more victims.
Investment scams currently account for the highest dollar losses. Meanwhile, fraudsters continue to exploit older adults through well-known tactics, such as the emergency or "grandparent" scam - where callers impersonate police or distressed family members - as well as romance scams, fake bank investigator calls and advance-fee lottery prizes.
Girhiny and Bennett suggested older adults follow some fundamental digital safety practices: never share personal or banking information over the phone, avoid clicking unknown links, regularly update antivirus software and always verify the legitimacy of organizations before transferring funds.
"The Bridgewater Police Service believes seniors are an integral part of our community, entitled to live in dignity and security, free of exploitation and abuse," said Bennett.
Sessions on safe investing (Oct. 1), legal information (Oct. 8) and three more topics of interest (taking place Oct. 15, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29) round out the academy’s offerings in 2026. Sign-up for the fall academy has been strong but space is still available.
The Lunenburg County Seniors Safety program aims to reduce the fear of crime, educate residents on personal security, promote aging in place and advocate for older adults across the region.
Anyone with questions regarding the safety academy or local senior support programs can contact Bennett at 902-543-3567 or via email at
Residents who suspect they have been targeted by cybercriminals can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or reach out to local law enforcement, such as the Bridgewater Police Service.
