Senior Citizens and Tech Scams: What can you do?

​Many of us use the internet daily without thinking about the number of scams out there. There are many online scams that pose a real threat, including phishing. It is very easy for someone to click on an unreliable site, unknowingly, and enter personal information that scammers can use to access various accounts.
 
But where do older adults fit into this? Aaron Dorman of McKnight Senior Living explains how senior citizens are most likely to fall for tech scams. Tech scams are also the costliest kinds of fraud, with losses doubling over the past two years. 
 
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reported that older adults lost $159 million through tech support scams in 2022, which is a 117% increase over 2021. The FTC also reports that adults 65 and older lose an average of more than $1,000 annually, whereas those 80 and older lose an average of about $1,750.
 
As generations age, more older adults are using technology. Dorman explains how recent studies have shown that older adults have a better understanding of technology than ever before, which scammer are using to their advantage. 
 
Scammers have become more sophisticated and can fool even the most tech-savvy person. Older adults are more likely to fall victim to robocalls and scammers impersonating government representative. Although many older adults may be aware that there are scams out there, they may still fall victim. 
 
It is important to educate the older family members in your life to never click on anything that they are unsure of or provide personal or financial information to websites that they have never visited before. Before giving personal information, you should go to the official website to verify you are providing your information with a trustworthy source. When calling a customer service line, verifying the number on the official website can be helpful as well. Also, reading the security clause on websites can help ensure that you know how your information is being kept safe.
 
What can be done if you fall victim to a scam? The first thing you should do is contact your bank as well as credit agencies to have them put a pause on credit. Changing your passwords and using strong passwords also can help fight against scammers. Additionally, investing in security software like LifeLock can help protect yourself and your loved ones against identify theft and fraud.
 
If you have any questions about home care for your loved ones, you can contact us. You can also check out the rest of our blog posts on our website.

​Written by Madison Chalmers

Image by Freepik