The Internet is full of scammers! People who are on the internet regularly have learned to avoid the most common online scams. Scammers know this. That’s why they target elderly people more than ever. It’s up to you to help educate elderly people about this.
Elderly people are being targeted by scammers worldwide.
As stated by the FBI, senior citizens are usually targeted because they usually have substantial savings and retirement accounts. They also come from a more trusting generation.
Here are some tips you can share with them:
-
Talk to the seniors in your life.
Make sure they understand that they should never respond to people they don’t know who are desperate for help.
-
Free doesn’t always mean free.
There are a lot of free software on the net. A lot of them claim to help your improve the performance of your computer. Unfortunately they are usually bundled with software that captures credit card numbers, bank logins etc.
-
Fake anti-virus software.
Have you ever been surfing around and all of a sudden a pop up window shows up saying you are infected with a virus? DO NOT let that site scan their computer. It will create a back door into their computer and every time they login to a site they give out their passwords to the scam artist.
-
Show them how to look at the email headers.
Is that email really from their bank or is it part of some phishing scheme?
-
Make sure they understand that the only time to enter their credit card number is if you see the https: in front of the url.
Otherwise the site is unsecured. Better yet, set up a Paypal.com account for them so they only pay using paypal.
-
Encourage them to buy credit card protection.
Many credit card companies have a service where you can give them all your credit card numbers. If your credit cards get stolen or if you see unusual activity on your card, you can call them to cancel your cards.
-
Sign them up for a credit monitoring service or they may want to go with a credit freeze.
-
A new fraud going around targeting elderly is an email supposedly sent from the tax assessors office.
It will encourage them to use their “approved” service for a reverse mortgage. Its a scam and they should ignore it! Government agencies are not in the habit of sending emails out recommending some random company.
It’s not only the elderly that get scammed. You need to always keep your credit card information to yourself. Also think twice before giving your details to an acquaintance. Some of the most common forms of credit card fraud involve an unsuspecting party getting ripped off by a close friend or family member.
What a wonderful post. I have been so wrapped up in my own financial problems I haven’t paid any attention to what my elderly parents are doing. I try to avoid the topic of money completely when I am with them because I have little good news to share. For all I know, they could be paupers already. I will be heading over to their house later today to have a look at what they have been doing online.
I am so paranoid about online security I only use a VISA debit card online, loading it online when I need to make a purchase from sites I do not know to be trustworthy. My parents of the other hand are way too trusting so I have sent them a link to this post.
Great advice about the risk of downloads. Almost every download available on the web that is not coming from CNET or a well known software company’s own download page has to be considered suspect and it at all possible ignored.
Hi Richard!
I’m constantly shocked at how bold scammers are becoming. Please warn everyone one you know that alot of the “free software” you find online really isn’t free! Your opening your computer up to all kinds of nasty tracking software!
Glad you enjoyed the article!
Shelly
Hi Helen,
I’m glad you liked our post. It is really good to somehow get our parents warned by internet fraud because some victims of internet fraud are elderly.
Thanks,
Shelly
Hi James,
It’s good to know that your letting your parents know the security they need when it comes to their credit card. It’s one way to prevent fraud online, let’s all help one another to prevent fraud.
Thanks,
Shelly