Submitted by: Connie Beaudry, Resource Coordinator Swan River & District Community Resource Council Inc.
Coffee and A Chat, sessions were at the Northern Neighbors Birch River Drop In Center, Benito Drop in Center, and the Swan River Senior Citizen Center. They were held October 29,30,31st 2024, and all started at 10 am. This month’s topics were Account Planning, Tech Talk, and Fraud Awareness.
In Swan River the session started with the host Connie Beaudry making a great entrance dressed in costume for October 31, Halloween.
The Queen” made a few steps into the room, making a grand sweep of her gown and fell flat on the floor. Oh my! I should have taken careful account of too tight shoes with slippery soles. I will in the future take better care of “Fall Prevention” and proper footwear. Style should not dictate the shoe but safety first. I have since put the shoes in the incinerator.
Now lets get to the topics of the day!
We must have had a hot topic, we welcomed a total of 62 people to the sessions! Thank you all for your participation. I am sure you were rewarded with information that you shared with family and friends.
Tech Talk with Nathan Davis, Systems Officer:
• Securing your online accounts with Multi Factor Authentication-It may seem a pain to go through all the steps to authorize what is your own account but statistics prove that MFA’s can greatly reduce the chance of your accounts being compromised.
• Passwords or passphrases should be as complex as possible, a minimum of 12 characters, or use a phrase like, ClosetlampBathroomtoilet. It is in your best interest to have different passwords for each account you have. Don’t reuse old passwords, hackers can hold on to old info to use present day and if you reuse an old password, BAM! You are hacked. If one account password gets hacked, you won’t be compromising all your other accounts.
• Passwords are more likely to be hacked from Social media accounts and emails with home wifi coming in 3rd.
• Password Managers-if you feel overwhelmed by the number of passwords, consider using an accredited Password manager application.
Need help or have questions? Visit the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) at cyber.gc.ca
Fraud Prevention and Awareness with Kelsey Borowski, Manager Member Services & Ryan Hofford Chief Technology Officer
• The number 1 way to prevent a scam is by raising awareness. Talking about scams isn’t always easy, if you have been a victim, but sharing your experience can benefit others.
• Scams-Romance scams seem to be in the valley, as well as all around the globe-remember If they want your Money they are not your Honey!
• Facebook Marketplace Scam can happen if you are asked to put a deposit on an item, that may not exist.
• Grandparents Scam is easier each day with the help of artificial intelligence. The scammer can take a still photo and make a video that puts your loved ones voice to it and it can say whatever the scammer wants it to say. They are very realistic. If you get the call, email or facetime and are not sure. Just hang up and call your loved one on a trusted phone and with a trusted phone number to your loved one.
• Crypto Currency-if its too good to be true it very well might be. Make sure the company is registered by going to info.securities_administrators.ca/nrsmobile/nrssearch.aspx
• Report if you believe you’ve been a victim of any scam involving money to the RCMP 204-734-4686, your bank or Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre 1-888-495-8501.
Joint Accounts, Power of Attorney & Designation of a Beneficiary with Yvonne Brelinski, Member Services Advisor
• What is a joint account-two or more people have ownership rights over the same account-if one holder dies the funds now belong to the other account holder-often one account holder may never have deposited any funds into the account-once the account is made, you can not take any names off the account.
Risks
*any one person on this account can withdraw funds without notice
*separation or divorce, courts can use these funds for a claim
*financial problems and bankruptcy, creditors could make claims to this acct.
• What is an Enduring Power of Attorney-a legal document signed by you, giving one or more persons the authority to manage your money and property on your behalf when you are alive and ends upon death.
Advantages
*makes it clear who will be responsible in managing your finances and health wishes if you become unable
*more than one person can be your attorney(person responsible)they can act together or alone, according to your wishes
*you can easily remove any of your named attorneys(person responsible)with a letter stating “I revoke all previous power of attorneys made by me”
• Designation of Beneficiaries-for registered investment products-is when you name an individual or individuals who will receive a specific asset upon your passing, it is generally not linked to your will. Swan Valley Credit Union suggests that members obtain legal advice on the safest and most effective way to pass your assets on to your loved ones!
We are looking forward to the next sessions all about Men’s Health. Birch River November 26th, Benito November 30th and November 31st Swan River. As usual the blood pressure self testing monitoring station will be set up. Men feel free to bring your dad’s, son’s, daughters, and your wives. A complimentary light lunch will be served at all the sessions.