What Is Stop the Rush?

The problem with traditional fraud prevention

Most fraud prevention relies on awareness campaigns, pamphlets, and technology like spam filters, caller ID, and fraud alerts. These tools help, but they fail at the decisive moment - when a real person is on the phone with someone who has manufactured a crisis.

A different approach

Stop the Rush teaches the psychology of why scams work. Scammers exploit three things: urgency, authority, and isolation. Our workshop gives attendees two simple, retention-focused tactics that short-circuit the scammer's playbook:

• The Rude Rule: It is okay to be rude to a stranger. If a call feels wrong, hang up immediately.
• The Family Safe Word: Establish a secret family password. If someone calls claiming a loved one is in trouble, ask for the word.

What attendees receive

Every participant gets a Safety Shield fridge magnet with the three core rules in large, high-contrast type - for daily visibility. They also get access to the digital Victim Recovery Guide via QR code.

Designed for accessibility

The entire program is AODA and WCAG 2.1 AA compliant. High-contrast materials, plain language, large type, and zero reliance on technology. Built from the ground up for adults 65+ and newcomers to Canada.