Most caregivers to senior citizens already know that they carry a huge responsibility toward ensuring the senior’s mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. There is one more essential aspect of care, however, and it involves the realm of technology. Technological safety is especially important for seniors, who are vulnerable to being preyed on by online scams like phishing. Caregivers must understand the tactics and common forms of phishing scams to know how to keep their loved one safe. Any attempts by an outside party to get information should be treated with a healthy suspicion, and remember it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Key Takeaways:
- Seniors are often the targets of scammers, and they should use extra caution responding to requests for personal information on the phone or in emails.
- Tell your loved ones to be cautious about emails that begin with generic phrases like “Dear Sir” and then ask for account numbers or personal information.
- Remember that scammers are savvy and they know exactly how to scare people into believing that they need to give over information, so be cautious and double check all such requests.
“With all that you have on your plate, it’s understandable if you don’t have time to keep up with technology. But the tech world continues to move forward, and that includes many savvy ways in which phishers are out to scam older Americans.”
