Seniors are frequent targets for fraud, and as the scams become more sophisticated, it is becoming easier to fool even the most tech-savvy people. Elder fraud includes a variety of scams targeting seniors, from fake prizes to solicitations for help from “grandchildren,” resulting in losses of $3 billion a year. According to the FBISeniors are often targeted because they have a high credit rating, financial stability and trustworthiness. Here are the top senior scams this year:
To get security alerts, expert tips, sign up for Kurt’s newsletter – Cyberguy Report here
1) Tech Support or Home Repair Scams
In this scam, people Technology support Or home repair technicians from reputable companies like Amazon offer to fix problems that don’t exist. Seniors should be wary of nuisance calls and verify the caller’s identity themselves. In some cases, they may show up on your doorstep claiming they’ve noticed your roof needs repairs.
BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR MAC, PC, iPhone & Android – CYBERGUY’S CHOICE
2) Telephone scams pretending to be relatives
This scam is One of the worstThe scammer will claim to be a grandchild or a close relative who is in urgent need of financial assistance. The scammer will claim that your grandchild has had an accident and you need money to take him to hospital.
If an elderly person realizes it’s a scam, the scammer will say they’ve kidnapped their grandchild and won’t release them unless they pay a ransom. In most cases, it’s a scam. Before you act, be sure to verify the story with other family members and try calling your grandchild. (This is a good excuse to encourage your grandchild to answer the phone more often.)
How to stop annoying robocalls
Five innovations that will improve life for seniors
3) Government impersonation scams
The scammer Impersonating an official Agencies such as the IRS, DEA, or FBI are demanding payment and threatening legal action if payment is not made. Scammers can do this in several ways: Phone spoofingThis way, when you call your target person, their name and number will show up on the caller ID as one of these agencies. Remember, these agencies will never call you and ask for money, and neither will most companies.
4) Sweepstakes and lottery scams
Wouldn’t it be nice to find out you won the lottery? In fact, there’s a good chance that this happy news is actually a scam. Sweepstakes and lottery scams are when seniors receive calls from scammers claiming they’ve won a prize or lottery, but that they’ll need to pay a fee to collect their prize. A genuine sweepstakes won’t ask you to pay any money up front.
5) TV and radio scams
Scammers advertise fraudulent services on television and radio, tricking seniors into calling and handing over money for certain products or services. Always research a company thoroughly before making a purchase.
Preventing telephone fraud against seniors
6) Geek Squad Phishing Scam
In this scam, the scammers use a fake Geek Squad invoice The email encourages seniors to call a specified number, during which the scammers steal personal information under the guise of resolving the problem. Counterfeiting IssuesAvoid clicking on suspicious links and verify invoices through official company contacts.
Don’t fall for this email scam that nearly cost an elderly woman $25,000
7) Overpayment fraud
If you balance your checkbook the “old-fashioned” way, you are unlikely to fall for this scam. Scammers trick their victims into believing they have mistakenly overpaid for a product, service, invoice, or subscription, and convince them to refund the fake overpayment. To do this, they request sensitive data, such as bank account information. Always verify such claims with your bank or the relevant company before taking any action.
8) Unsubscribe Email Scams
Similar to the above, emails in your inbox claiming to help you unsubscribe from a service are actually Phishing scams They are sent with the intention of stealing your personal information. In some cases, they may also contain an “unsubscribe” link within the email. Always use official websites to manage your subscriptions and avoid clicking on unknown email links.
9) Health Insurance Fraud
As it’s that time of year again when it’s time to sign up for health insurance, beware of scammers taking advantage of the situation. Scammers will call you and pretend to be health insurance brokers or others offering fake health insurance plans and services, often requesting personal information to “see what you’re eligible for.” Check with your provider directly about any health insurance offers.
10) Charity Fraud
It’s not uncommon for seniors to be generous donors. However, avoid giving too much or to organizations that aren’t actually charities. Another tactic used by scammers is to trick seniors into donating to fake charities, especially after natural disasters. These charities don’t call as often these days, but it’s possible. Never give away your personal information or money right away. Thank them for calling and take the time to research the organization to make sure it’s legitimate before deciding what to do.
11) Romance Scams
Finally, scammers create fakes. Online relationships To exploit seniors for money. Seniors who feel lonely and want to connect with others may unknowingly fall for this scam, assuming the other person is sincere. When they are asked for money, they justify it by feeling a connection with the other person, but it is too late. Many seniors find true love online and may even meet their lifelong partners, but be careful about sharing personal information or sending money to people you have only met online. There may be an ulterior motive.
12) Artificial Intelligence Scams
Artificial intelligence (AI) scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and pose a major threat to seniors. These scams use AI technology to create convincing fake audio, video or text messages that appear to come from a trusted source. Here are some key points about AI scams targeting seniors:
- Deepfake Audio Scams: AI is Clone VoiceThis allows scammers to impersonate family members or authority figures over the phone, making the “grandparent scam” even more convincing.
- AI-generated phishing emails: Scammers are using AI to create personalized, grammatically correct emails that look authentic, making them harder to detect as fraudulent.
- Chatbot spoofing: AI chatbots can mimic customer service representatives, technical support, or government officials to trick seniors into divulging personal information or making payments.
- Fake video call: Advanced AI can create realistic video avatars, allowing scammers to pose as loved ones or officials in video chats.
- AI-enhanced social engineering: Scammers use AI to collect and analyze personal information from social media to create highly targeted, personalized scams.
To protect themselves from AI scams, seniors should be wary of unsolicited communications, verify their identity through trusted channels, and stay informed about the latest AI-based fraud techniques. It is important to educate seniors about these evolving threats and encourage them to report suspicious activity to the police. National Elderly Fraud Hotline.
12 Tips to Protect Yourself from Elder Fraud
As scams targeting seniors become increasingly sophisticated, it’s important for seniors to be educated and cautious. The following 12 tips can help seniors stay one step ahead of scammers and protect their financial well-being and personal information.
1) Beware of nuisance calls, emails and messagesNever provide personal information or send money to people you don’t know.
2) Take your time and don’t act hastily under pressure. Scammers often create a false sense of urgency.
3) Verify the identity of callers claiming to be relatives in distressContact other family members to verify their stories before taking any action.
4) Be suspicious of unusual payment requests Such as gift cards and wire transfers.
5) Always use security software on your PC and smartphone. Latest Use Two-factor certification if possible.
6) Carefully review your bills and credit card statements for fraudulent claims.
7) Beware of “free” offers Anything that requires you to pay shipping or other fees.
8) Don’t just trust caller IDThis is because scammers may forge legitimate numbers.
9) Be skeptical of any investment opportunities or transactions you are solicited to make. It looks incredibly amazing.
10) Report suspected fraud Report it to your local law enforcement agency, the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311, or the Federal Trade Commission.
11) Don’t click on links in emails or text messages It is from an unknown source. If you are unsure, go directly to the official website by typing the address in your browser. The best way to protect yourself from clicking on malicious links that install malware that may access your personal information is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. This will also warn you about phishing emails and ransomware scams. We’ve handpicked the winners of the best antivirus protection of 2024 for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
12) Invest in personal data deletion services. No service promises to delete all your data from the Internet, but if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of continually deleting information from hundreds of sites over a long period of time, using a deletion service can be a convenient option. Use my recommendations to remove your personal data from the internet.
By remaining vigilant and following these precautions, seniors can better protect themselves from becoming victims of scams.
Important points about the cart
Scammers generally don’t care who becomes their victim, but they know who to target to execute their tactics more effectively. Don’t be fooled. If your intuition tells you that something is wrong, it probably is. After all, you need to have life experience to know if something is wrong. As a general rule of thumb, the more urgent the situation is for money, the more likely it is a scam. Don’t get carried away with your emotions and take a moment to understand what is really going on.
Have you ever been in a situation like this where you realized it was a scam? Or have you ever been caught out by a scam like this? What happened? What did you do? Email us and let us know. Cyberguy.com/Contact Us.
If you want to receive more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to the free CyberGuy Report newsletter at the link below. Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Have a question for Kurt or tell us the story you’d like to see featured?.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the CyberGuy’s most frequently asked questions:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All Rights Reserved.