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CRIME AWARENESS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AMID ‘GRANDPARENT’ SCAM SURGE | Halton police have launched a new campaign s follow- er- scams across Officers sing a poster nde. signed to warn potential victims will soon be on dis- play at most major banks in Halton. The poster outlines some of the common sce- narios fraudsters use to convince people to give them mone; The emergency or grandparent scam typical- wi involves a 2 targeted per- an unsolicit- edp phone ‘call about a loved one who is in trouble. The perpetrators may pretend to be the loved one, or they may impersonate a police officer and/or other members of the criminal justice system (lawyer, bai- liff, dst , for exam- ple), and falsely claim the loved one is in police custo- dy as a result of something like an impaired driving accident. The fraudster then re- auests a large amount of to have the loved one re eased from custody, or to pay for associated bills/fines accrued as a re- sult of the alleged incident. The scammers even say there is a "gag or- der" in v place regarding the incident, to prevent the tar- get from discussing it with anyone else. Police said the Regional Fraud Unit has noted a re- cent increase in these types ARE YOU THE VICTIM OF A SCAM? Dida family member recently call Did the person on the phone d? about: Balai ost e) you to withdraw c loved one’s bail? '* Someone arrested for impaired driving? © Someone arrested for drugs? * Acar accident? wee You told to put the cash * Finding a gun in the car? welope a wait fora * A pregnant woman? ever ie pick it uy udsters are using tl to convince you to gi * A gag order? jul situations ol Halton police it linage Halton police will display this poster in major Halton bat an effort to educate potential victims about "emergency" and "grandparent" scams making the rounds in the region. of scams being reported over the past couple of months and is concerned the increase may continue with the holiday season ap- roaching. Residents are being en- couraged to take time dur- ing the holidays to speak with their older family members about this ongo- ing scam. Halton police are offer- ing residents the following tips to protect themselves from these types of scams: . Attempt to verity the question) and call them di- rectly to clarify the situa- tion. Yetmsure call your lo- cal police service and ask them for assistance. + Attempt to directly call the loved one in question and clarify the matter with them. Police are reminding residents that these fraud- sters are counting ona ber son's goot tO them act quickly to help their loved o1 Officers ask that resi- dents take their time and caller's identity — ise the previously men- volunteer any information, tioned tips to protect them- and ask very specific prob- __ selves. ing questions about the cal- Additional information ler. on frauds and scams can be +Requesttocallbackthe found at haltonpolice.ca/ initial caller — then inde-__ en/staying-safe/frauds- pendently findthenumber and-scams.aspx or at anti- treanti vice (or oth- er purported agency in fraude.ca/index-eng.htm. Hosting an event online or in the community? Post the details for free in our catendar, — ADVERTORIAL — candy canes, sugar cookies and chocolat truffles — and you don’t have to, says Oakville dentist Vineet Bhandari. What is important is to be aware of what yous and your family are cating and to protect habits. Hi the holiday: and keep teeth sparing and healthy: + Stay with your dental hygiene routine: The holiday schedule interrupts everyone’s normal dental hygiene routine but take the time to floss and brush as usual, says Dr. Bhandari. + Put away the candy dish: Hard candies are all sugar, which stays in the mouth for a long time. Enjoy sugar-free gum or candy and serve healthier treats like nuts, grapes, mandarin oranges and frozen mango slices. Ask Santa to skip putting candy in stockings too. + Snack strategically: The best thing snackers can do is drink water after they eat to wash the food away or chew sugarless gum after eating to stimulate saliva production. Rather than snack throughout the day on foods high in sugar, eat them at mealtime. “When you eat your mouth produces saliva, which can help neutralize the acid produced by sugars that can cause cavities.” Dr. Vineet Bhandari dentist Give yourself a healthy holiday smile It’s hard to imagine Christmas without + Avoid pop: Reduce consumption of sugary drinks and rinse your mouth with water after| drinking to reduce the production of cavity- causing acid. Dr. Bhandari recommends water] as the beverage of choice any time of year. + Rethink dessert: Serve traditional holiday desserts but provide options like a cheese and fruit platter. Cheese creates a protective coating on teeth that helps fend off acid while increasing beneficial saliva production. + Use your teeth for eating only: Teeth are not a tool and should not be used to crack nuts or remove bottle caps. lake brushing special for kids: Consider, buying holiday themed toothbrushes. Choose a festive song to play only during teeth brushing time. Making it fun will encourage kids to remember to brush at least twice a day. + Plan ahead for holiday visits: Always carry a travel kit containing toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash. At home, have new toothbrushes available for guests who forget. + Always beware of the sweets you eat and drink. Practice good dental hygiene and schedule regular professional hygiene appointments and dental checkups. Give yourself the gift of great dental care during the festive season and through the year. 2525 Old Bronte Rd. Ste. 470 Oakville 289-813-8239 @20z ‘Zz sequiedeq ‘Aepsiny | seneeg SIIIAXEO | LL woo"uo}]eYyapIsUt