Have you ever helped a loved one navigate the tech world? It can be a great way to stay connected, but it’s important to be aware of online safety. Recently, a peer commented they felt as if more could be done to help educate and protect seniors from internet scams. That caught my attention and I decided to do some research…Did you know…according to the FBI, in 2023, elder fraud scams resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses? And in the same year, the average victim of elder fraud lost a whopping $33,915? [source]

The most commonly reported scam involves fake tech support. But tech support scams come in many forms, and some are more elaborate than others. You might see a pop-up warning about a computer infection, or even have your computer play a scary recording claiming a virus has been detected and urging you not to turn off the device. These recordings often come with a phone number to call for “help.” These tactics are designed to create panic and pressure the user into making a rash decision. Don’t fall for it! Scammers often target seniors because they may be less familiar with online threats.

This post is all about empowering ourselves and our loved ones to stay safe online. Whether you’re a senior yourself or looking out for someone you care about, we’ll explore some easy steps to avoid tech scams and keep your information secure.

Common Scams

Tech Support, Computer Support, Phony Phone Calls and Pop-Ups: As explained above, this could be a scary pop-up warning about a computer infection or perhaps a call claiming your computer has a virus. These are classic tech support scams. The scammer might try to walk you through “fixing” the problem, but their real goal is to steal your banking information. If the scammers can get access to the computer through remote means, they will add malware to your computer to steal information when you login. If you see a pop-up, don’t click on it! Instead, simply close the window. And if you get an unsolicited call where someone is telling you that your computer has issues, just hang up. What if they’re right and you think you might have a problem with your computer? You should still hang up.  Make a call to someone you know or reach out to a company for help.

Remember, it’s always best to be cautious. 

Social media can be a great way to connect with friends and family, but it’s also a breeding ground for scams — and many of these aren’t just targeting seniors. Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Survey Scams: Be wary of surveys that ask for personal information like your birthday, the name of the street where you grew up, or the name of your favorite band.
• Fake or Cloned Accounts: Only accept friend requests from people you know, and don’t accept a second or third friend request from someone you are already connected with on social media. Most likely, that is a cloned account. see how to protect yourself from this with this blog – [How To Protect Yourself Online – A Skye Crest Technology Blog].
• Private Message Scams: Be careful about interacting with strangers in private messages. They could be trying to gain your trust and then exploit you in some way or send you a malicious link that might steal your information or harm your device. 
• Marketplace Scams: Trying to sell something online? Always be cautious. If someone sends you a check for more than the asking price and then asks you to send the extra money back to them, don’t. And of course, only meet up with people in public places and tell them before you meet how you’ll accept payment — cash or a cash type application.
• Prizes and Giveaways are another common online scam. It’s surprising how often this still works, if it’s a local business giving out a gift card, gift basket, or a free service, sure, support local small businesses. But a star like Kenny Chesney isn’t going to give away his boat because you “like” his post, and a dealership claiming they bought too many RVs they are going to give one away that you might win, if you click “like” and share the post.  The old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” rings loud and clear in this instance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making scams even harder to spot. For instance, if you answered the phone and it sounded like your grandchild, it would be hard to not fall for it:

• The “Grandchild in Trouble” Scam: You might get a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or even claiming to be your grandchild (Online videos on social sites or apps like TikTok combined with AI are making it very easy to mimic voices these days!). They’ll say your grandchild is in jail and needs money urgently. Don’t send any money without verifying the story with your family member directly, even if the imposter begs you not to tell the “parents.”

Romance Scams: Scammers often prey on lonely people, and seniors can be especially vulnerable. It’s easy for seniors to get wrapped up in long distance romance scams. Be wary of online relationships that result in requests for money — they may claim they want to come see you but need money, or ask for money to get out of debt so they can come see you. Sometimes these scams even turn into blackmail.

The IRS Scam is a classic. Remember, the IRS will never call, text, or email you to ask or demand information or payment. They will always send official mail, the original “snail mail” way.

Phishing Emails: It’s not just social media or phones anymore. Emails are another sneaky way scammers try to steal your personal information. We’ve got a whole blog post dedicated to spotting phishing emails, so check that out if you’d like to learn more [Spot a Phishing Email — A Sky Crest Technology Blog].

Long-Term Care Employees — Unfortunately, scams can even happen offline and this is a common scam that actually happened to a family member. The senior needed her checkbook to pay for services like haircuts and day trips, so she left it with an employee at the front desk. It was later discovered that an employee in the long-term care facility stole her banking information. It’s important to have conversations with your loved ones about protecting their personal information, and it’s always best to use a credit card instead of a debit card because fraud protection is 100% better with a credit card than with a debit card.

If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, don’t hesitate to report it. Here are some helpful resources for reporting fraud:

• National Elder Fraud Hotline | Office for Victims of Crime (ojp.gov)
• Internet Crime Complaint Center(IC3) | Home Page

Sharing this information with other people could help protect them from scams and stay safe online. 

If you’re part of an organization with members who could benefit from a speaker on this topic or if you’re looking for a speaker on another cybersecurity topic, feel free to Contact – Skye Crest Technology!

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