Winnipeg police and the Manitoba government have launched a new anti-fraud campaign aimed at protecting older adults from phone scams.
The “Just Hang Up” campaign encourages seniors to immediately end suspicious calls in an effort to prevent financial losses and emotional harm.
The initiative targets so-called grandparent and emergency scams, where fraudsters impersonate a relative in distress — sometimes using artificial intelligence and information gathered from social media or data breaches. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Manitobans aged 60 and older reported losing nearly $350,000 to these scams in 2024.
Police say the campaign is designed to stop fraud at the first point of contact by urging people to hang up, verify the caller’s claims with family members and report incidents. It includes online resources, advertising and community messaging, along with a resource hub at JustHangUp.ca.
“With advancements in technology, grandparent scams have become a serious threat, causing financial hardship for families and eroding trust in institutions as fraudsters impersonate authority figures to exploit vulnerable seniors,” said Winnipeg police Insp. Jennifer McKinnon.
The province is providing $134,000 for the campaign through its Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.
As part of the campaign, the WPS Community Relations Division and A & O: Support Services for Older Adults will deliver in-person presentations over the next six months, aiming to reach more than 700 people with tools and strategies to prevent victimization.
