The phone rang all morning. Friends, professional colleagues, clients — all wanting to know, “Dorothy, did you go to Spain?” Many suspected it was a scam but others sent $2,000 to the Valencia crooks.

What ensued were dozens of phone calls to Western Union, multiple visits to police stations and frustratingly difficult attempts to talk to a live person at my e-mail hosting company. I also turned to the Church for eucharistic adoration and advice from my spiritual director. Although I had done nothing wrong, I felt awful that my name had been used to dupe people and I needed spiritual and psychological support. How was I to console these women? What was my moral culpability?

One thing I learned through this ordeal is to be wary of Western Union transactions. The international financial company promotes quick, reliable and efficient money transfers around the world. They earn a fee for each transaction. Their network was apparently used by the fraudsters in the Valencia scam. When I called their fraud department, the representative insisted that Dorothy Pilarski (me!) had picked up the money transfers in Valencia. I haven’t been to Spain since 1980.

When I demanded proof that it was me who received the money, they refused to give it but said they had photo verification and my signature on file, which they claimed could not be shared due to privacy laws. I wondered whose privacy they were protecting? The scammers? I was left feeling like they had more sympathy for the hacker than the hacked.

Unfortunately, my situation is hardly unique. The government sponsored web site of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (www.antifraudcentre.ca) details dozens of scams that attack Canadians. Here are the names of just a few of the scams:  grandparent scam, the hitman e-mail, inheritance e-mail, puppy scam, false charities, vehicle warranty package, free trip scam, the prize pitch, phone number spoofing, dead air phone calls. The list, sadly, seems endless.

Although Internet fraud is a global problem, Canada is a prime target for criminals. As one policing official told me, that’s because “Canadians are internationally known as being kind, giving, helpful, Christian, trusting, naïve and we want to help now.” Today’s efficient money transfer companies allow all these charitable Canadians to satisfy that innate urge to offer instant help.

Fraud experts tell us that seniors in particular must be alert. They are prime targets for fraudulent calls or e-mails pleading for financial help from someone posing as a friend or relative in trouble. Be particularly wary of anyone urging that money be sent immediately by wire transfer. Independently confirm all details before sending any cash.

Having your identity stolen and used to commit fraud against anyone, but particularly against friends, is harrowing. But the incident has also brought blessings. I have been deeply touched by the many friends who consoled me and prayed for me. One acquaintance even wrote a cheque to help the victims.

And what can I say about those people who rushed to send aid to Valencia when they thought I was in distress? Of course I wish that they hadn’t been deceived. But their haste to come to my aid touched me deeply and their kindness I will always cherish.