Midwestern

Scam Awareness and Fire Safety sessions for seniors

Members of the Perth East Fire Department and the OPP are joining forces to help seniors.

There has been an increase in the number of cases where residents have been victims of scams or fraud, with seniors being identified as the most vulnerable targets.

In an effort to educate older residents about scams and fraud, Perth County OPP conducted information sessions in Mitchell and Milverton.  In the Milverton session, one person shared an experience being a victim of fraud, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars lost.

The Perth East Fire Department and the OPP are teaming up to host "two-in-one" sessions in August.

Those attending will be presented with scam-and-fraud awareness information, and also some fire safety tips. Seniors are the most vulnerable demographic when it comes to fires. Over 60 per cent of fire fatalities in Ontario were people over the age of 50.

The first session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13 at the Sebringville Fire Station, starting at 6:30 p.m. The second session is Wednesday, August 14 that the Shakespeare Optimist Hall, also starting at 6:30 p.m.

Representatives from the Perth East and West Perth Fire Departments and Perth County OPP will be there. The sessions are open to everyone. Council members from Perth East and Perth South have been invited, as well as MPP Randy Pettapiece, and MP John Nater.

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