Manitoba Launches “Just Hang Up” Campaign to Protect Seniors from Phone Scams

The Manitoba government and the Winnipeg Police Service have launched a new initiative aimed at protecting older adults from phone scams, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced today.

The campaign, called Just Hang Up, focuses on preventing grandparent and emergency scams, where fraudsters impersonate family members or authority figures, sometimes using artificial intelligence, to exploit older adults. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Manitobans aged 60 and over reported losses of nearly $350,000 to these scams in 2024.

“Older adults in Manitoba deserve to be safe physically, financially and emotionally,” said Wiebe. “Just Hang Up is an important investment in their safety, helping seniors interrupt scam attempts early by simply hanging up.”

How the Campaign Works

The multi-channel campaign aims to:

• Strengthen fraud literacy among older adults and their families.
• Encourage people to pause, verify information with family, and report suspicious calls.
• Empower victims by reducing the stigma around being scammed.

Funding from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund (CPF) has supported the development of online resources, promotional materials, and advertising for the campaign. The online resource hub is available at https://justhangup.ca.

In addition, the WPS, in partnership with A & O: Support Services for Older Adults, is delivering in-person presentations to educate seniors on practical tools to prevent scams. Over the next six months, the campaign aims to engage more than 700 older adults through these sessions.

“With advancements in technology, grandparent scams are a serious threat, causing financial hardship and eroding trust,” said Insp. Jennifer McKinnon of WPS. “This campaign provides critical awareness and protection to our community’s seniors.”

Amanda Macrae, CEO of A & O: Support Services for Older Adults, emphasized the importance of public awareness and prevention initiatives, stating the campaign equips older adults with knowledge and tools to stay safe in an increasingly complex digital and social landscape.

Funding and Support

The Manitoba government provided $134,000 for the campaign through the CPF, which redirects proceeds from seized criminal property to community safety initiatives. In 2025-26, over $643,000 has been allocated to WPS for projects including Just Hang Up. More information on CPF can be found at https://gov.mb.ca/justice/commsafe/cpf/index.html.

March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada. Additional tips for preventing scams are available at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.