The Internet is a great place for seniors who want to spend their free time meaningfully engaged. Thanks to the web, they can connect with grandkids living half the world away, shop, or trade recipes in a local Facebook group. But unfortunately, they’re also the prime demographic for scammers and internet scams.
Why are seniors often seen as prime targets for internet scams? What types of scams are common, and how can you protect yourself and help the elderly around you avoid becoming victims?
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What are Internet Scams & Why Do So Many Target Seniors?
Internet scams are dishonest, fraudulent schemes created to deceive people and steal from them using digital means. Some trick victims into sharing their personal information online or transferring large sums of money. In fact, seniors lost nearly $2 billion to fraud in 2023 alone, much of which was through online scams.
Often, cybercriminals perceive older generations as the perfect target for several reasons. Hackers count on many of them not being as tech-savvy as younger generations are, so they’re easier to trick. And since senior victims may feel embarrassed after falling for these scams, they feel reluctant to report their experiences to their family or official authorities.
In addition, scammers believe elders have more assets to steal since they’ve presumably had their entire lives to save for retirement. Many seniors are also eligible for programs like Medicare, giving scammers an easy pretext to exploit.
What Types of Internet Scams Should Seniors Watch Out for?
The number and multitude of scams targeting seniors is concerning. Here’s a brief overview of the most common ones.
Imposter scams
Today, most bureaucratic procedures are online for convenience and efficiency, but this shift also opens new opportunities for scams.
Imposter scams refer to scams that claim to represent entities like your bank, the IRS, Medicaid, the Social Security Administration, and others. They’re often well-polished and look very authentic, usually appearing as notices or messages sent via email, text, or social media. These scams urge seniors to resolve problems by providing their bank account information, SSN, or other sensitive data.
Romance scams
Seniors, who often live alone and feel lonely, are common targets for romance scams. Such scams include cybercrooks creating fake personas and quickly forming whirlwind “relationships” to build trust. Then, they start asking the victim for money or sensitive information.
Such scams are notorious for scammers’ inability to meet in person due to “unforeseen circumstances,” but the constant affection, or “love bombing,” keeps the victim invested in the fake relationship.
Lottery or sweepstakes scams
If a senior unexpectedly “wins” a lottery they never played, they should disregard this news—nothing in life comes for free.
Lottery or sweepstakes scams involve flashy texts, calls, or emails saying the person has won a tempting prize. There is a catch, though: the person has to pay a fee to get the money or prize. People who fall for this scam often lose money and personal data because they give out private information like bank account numbers when they pay.
Grandchild scams
The most upsetting fraud that preys on the elderly is the “grandchild scam,” in which scammers impersonate grandchildren who need a senior’s help immediately. More often than not, the help they mean is monetary and comes with a request not to tell anyone about this act.
Recently, these scams have become even more convincing because the scammers now use AI to replicate people’s voices, making their impersonations sound surprisingly accurate.
Simple Ways of Staying Safe
Online scams are becoming more widespread and sophisticated. However, you can drastically reduce the chances of falling for one by following a few straightforward and easy-to-implement practices.
Remain calm during the encounter
No matter the situation, there’s no need to panic. Many internet scams confuse and rush their victims by creating a sense of urgency. Keeping calm during your encounter with a scammer and assessing the situation rationally will help you see through their tactics.
Don’t be afraid to question
When unsure if something’s a scam, information is your friend. Stay updated on recent scams and save official websites and contact emails for your bank, online stores, and social media. Compare these with any suspicious messages you receive, and if they don’t match legitimate sources, avoid engaging.
Cybersecurity tools are your friends
Cybersecurity isn’t just for IT professionals anymore! In fact, it’s easily accessible and even recommended to anyone who’s actively online. Modern cybersecurity tools hardly require any input yet can be of great help, and setting up just three can make a huge difference.
Tools like password managers can help when setting up your accounts. They create strong, unique passwords and store them safely, where hackers can’t access them. This is essential for protecting account security and replacing common or duplicate login credentials with ones that are impossible to guess.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a program that shields your internet connection from prying eyes. What is a VPN? It’s a tool that hides your online activity by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. This is especially useful on unsafe networks, like public Wi-Fi, where cybercriminals can easily monitor and exploit your actions. If you’re unsure which VPN to choose, consider asking younger family members for best VPN recommendations and assistance with installation.
Antivirus software scans your devices for malware or other harmful programs that might infect your device if you click suspicious links or visit sketchy sites. Installing one and having it regularly scan for threats will keep your device clean.
Speak up
If you suspect you’re being targeted online, inform your family—especially younger members who have more experience with technology and have a better sense of spotting if something seems off.
Scammers are “professionals” at manipulating and deceiving people, so falling for their traps isn’t something to be ashamed of. The sooner you act, the better your chances of avoiding or recouping your losses. Plus, you can prevent the scammers from hurting others.
Conclusion
Knowing that so many internet scams are geared specifically towards seniors can be scary. However, it’s important to remember that you aren’t powerless! Take our advice to heart and use the internet with confidence.
