COBDEN — The Reeve of Whitewater Region is hopeful council and police will hold information meetings within the township regarding telephone and door-to-door fraud.
In his report to council last week, Reeve Terry Millar advised he was approached by a resident about the possibility of educational sessions being held in the township regarding fraud and those who prey on others .
“We all get the calls and we know how to deal with them,” Reeve Millar said. “But the elderly have a little more trouble with that.”
He also learned during the Upper Ottawa Valley Community Policing Advisory Committee meeting he attended, that fraud phone calls are a problem throughout the county, not just the township. He knows the true number of how many people get caught up in the fraudulent deals will never be known because people don’t talk about it.
“I would like to encourage council to promote (a meeting),” he said. “With the police help, have staff help set up a meeting similar (to other municipalities). I think it would be appreciated.
“If it saved just one person from getting hurt, it will all be worthwhile,” Reeve Millar said.
Councillor Charlene Jackson suggested the seniors’ groups set up the meetings and the communications police officer be invited to attend.
“I think it’s a great idea and well-needed,” she said. “I think the tactics that people use on the phones these days is horrendous and the elders certainly get tied up in it and don’t understand.
“They fear that they are going to do something wrong and therefore go ahead and follow the directions of someone who is being quite demanding on the phone and that’s very unfortunate,” Coun. Jackson said.
Mayor Hal Johnson also agreed the meetings would be a great idea. He also suggested the fraud number be used instead of people calling the police. He noted that each time the 911 number is used within the township, there is a fee charged to the municipality. If the fraud number is used, that will cut down on the policing costs, he said.
Councillor Chris Olmstead said the door-to-door sales people are very aggressive.
“I used to be in the business of renting property to the elders, certain buildings designated seniors only, and there were a number of issues,” he said. “Telephone fraud was an issue, but the door-to-door people became very aggressive.”
Mayor Johnson is hopeful the meetings will be set up soon.
