Protecting Our Seniors: Guarding Against Telephone and Internet Scams

Unfortunately, senior citizens are frequent targets of telephone and internet scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2022 alone, people aged 65 and over reported losing over $3 billion to fraud. These scams can have a devastating impact on their financial security and emotional well-being.
Here are some of the common tactics scammers use to target seniors. It is important to educate seniors about these tricks:
•    Grandparent scam: The scammer pretends to be a grandchild in trouble, often claiming to be arrested or needing money for an emergency.
•    Tech support scam: The scammer claims to be from a well-known tech company and offers to fix non-existent problems with the senior’s computer, often requesting remote access or payment for unnecessary services.
•    IRS impersonation scam: The scammer calls or emails, claiming to be from the IRS and threatening the senior with legal action unless they pay a fabricated tax debt.
•    Medicare/Social Security scam: The scammer pretends to be from a government agency and threatens to suspend the senior’s benefits unless they confirm personal information or make a payment.
•    Phishing scams: The scammer sends emails or text messages disguised as legitimate companies, like banks or credit card companies, tricking the senior into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links.
These are just a few examples, and scammers are constantly developing new methods to exploit their victims.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself or your loved ones from falling victim to these scams:
•    Be wary of unsolicited calls, emails, and texts: Never give out personal information or financial details over the phone or the internet to someone you don’t know and trust.
•    Verify the caller’s identity: If someone claims to be from a legitimate organization, hang up and call them back at a number you know is correct. Don’t trust the phone number provided by the caller.
•    Don’t be pressured into making a quick decision: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to cloud your judgment. Take your time, and don’t hesitate to discuss the situation with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor.
•    Be cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments in emails or text messages: These can contain malware that can steal your personal information or damage your computer.
•    Keep your computer and software up to date:This can help protect you from security vulnerabilities that scammers can exploit.
•    Use strong passwords and different passwords for different accounts: Avoid using easily guessable information like your birthday or pet’s name.
•    Shred personal documents before throwing them away: This helps prevent identity theft.
It’s crucial to remember that no legitimate organization will ever pressure you to provide personal information or make a payment over the phone or the Internet. If you suspect you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, report it immediately to the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov/media/71268 (https://www.ftc.gov/media/71268) or by calling 1-877-382-4357.
By staying informed and vigilant, we can help protect our
seniors from these harmful scams.

Additional Tips to Protect Yourself:

• Be wary of unsolicited calls, emails, and letters, especially those that offer something that seems too good to be true.
• Never give out personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number, to someone you don’t know and trust.
• Don’t be afraid to hang up on a call or close an email if you think it might be a scam.
• If you think you have been the victim of a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-382-4357.
• Talk to your family and friends about scams. The more people are aware of the dangers of scams, the less likely they are to be successful.
• Consider using a call-blocking device or service to block unwanted calls.
• Be careful about what information you share on social media. Scammers can use this information to target you with personalized scams.
• Keep your computer software up to date, including your antivirus and anti-malware software.
• Be cautious about clicking on links in emails or text messages, even if they appear to be from a legitimate source.

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from scams. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.