If the doorbell rings and you weren’t expecting anyone, and your first instinct is hesitation, trust it.
That’s not paranoia. That’s prudence.
What Front-Door and Door-to-Door Scams Look Like in Canada
In fact, 82% of older Canadians report feeling apprehensive when someone unexpected shows up at their door. One in three Canadians over 55 won’t answer at all, a rate 70% higher than that of younger adults.
Let’s call that what it is: wisdom earned over time. And it’s warranted. Service-related scams are consistently among the most reported frauds in Canada. They often target homeowners directly, using urgency, pressure and intimidation as their tools of choice.
Why High-Pressure Tactics Are the Biggest Red Flag
As I’ve said many times over the years: If someone is rushing you to make a decision, that’s your cue to slow down.
The hidden risk factor is at your front door, and here is something important. Despite this high level of caution, 55% of Canadians aged 55+ are not using any visible home security technology, including no cameras, motion lights, or video doorbells.
That’s a critical protection gap.
Fraudsters thrive on opportunity. They look for homes where they believe they can create pressure without resistance. Visible security changes that equation. It increases their perceived risk and often sends them elsewhere.
Your Home Is Your Financial Foundation
This isn’t about fear. It’s about leverage. Leverage used to your advantage and protection.
I have come to realize that your home is more than the place you live; it’s your financial foundation. For most Canadians over 55, their home is their largest asset. It represents decades of hard work, disciplined saving and smart decisions.
At HomeEquity Bank, the focus has always been on helping older Canadians protect and responsibly access the value of their homes so they can age in place with confidence.
Aging in Place Requires Safety Supports
And we know that 90% of older Canadians want to remain in their homes as they age. But aging in place requires more than comfort; it also requires supports that enhance safety and independence.
Home security technology is one of those supports.
Because here’s another truth: Financial well-being and physical safety are deeply connected. A front-door scam doesn’t just create emotional stress; it can erode hard-earned financial stability.
And protecting your equity means protecting your independence.
Once we shift our thoughts from intimidation to empowerment, technology becomes a valuable tool.
Security Tech That Buys You Time
By combining technology with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s primary advice: Resist high-pressure tactics. Take your time. Do your research. It is the one-two punch that sends fraudsters packing.
Technology makes that possible.
• A video doorbell allows you to see and speak to someone without opening the door.
• Motion lights and cameras signal that your home is protected.
• Smart locks let you control access on your terms.
These tools do something powerful: they give you time.
And as I’ve said before: Time is one of the most valuable currencies in financial decision-making. When you remove urgency, you regain clarity. Women, in particular, are leading the way in cautious behaviour, 37% simply won’t answer the door to an unexpected visitor, compared to 21% of men.
I’m in that camp, and it tells me something important. We are already alert. We are already thoughtful. We already understand risk.
Now it’s about matching that instinct with action.
Security technology isn’t complicated. It’s accessible. And increasingly, it’s affordable.
It’s also preventative, and prevention is always less costly than repair.
Take Charge With Simple Safeguards
It is time to take charge now. Throughout my career, I’ve often reminded Canadians: you cannot control everything. But you can control how prepared you are.
Front-door fraud is real.
The pressure tactics are real.
The financial consequences are real.
But so is your ability to reduce risk.
At HomeEquity Bank, the mission is clear: empower older Canadians with knowledge, tools and financial solutions that protect their homes and their futures.
When we understand the risks, recognize the red flags, and put simple safeguards in place, we move from vulnerability to confidence.
And confidence is the foundation of financial wellness.
Your home represents a lifetime of effort. Protecting it is not optional. It’s prudent.
And prudence, as we’ve seen, is something older Canadians already have in abundance.
