Common web scams aimed directly at seniors
The invention of the world wide web has revolutionized the world, how we do business, talk to friends and family, manage our finances, and shop. Just as we’ve adapted to being plugged-in so are criminals hedging their bets on cybercrime and their targets of choice: seniors. Globally, digital crime earns $600 billion annually and that number is growing with every passing day.
The ‘Stanford Center on Longevity and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Investor Education Foundation’ states that people who grew up in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s are much more likely to lose money to financial scams than younger generations. Seniors are also less likely to report crimes of fraud and cybercrime.
Anyone surfing the web regularly should be aware of the scams specifically targeted at them and be prepared when suspicious activity arises on the internet. Knowledge of several well-known scams can help any elder sharpen their defenses against digital threats.
Email Scams
Most likely you’ve already deleted a few email scams from your inbox and spam folders. For many years, an advance fee scam from a “Prince in Nigeria” offered many people around the world a very large sum of money in exchange for a small processing fee. This fraud is still sitting in junk (email) folders even today.
An email scam begins with an email that’s phishing for sensitive data like passwords, credit card information, and usernames. The thief will pretend to be someone else and the email can look legitimate with a polished logo, copied design-style, and more often than not, a too-good-to-be-true offer.
It can be tricky to spot these fraudulent emails. Make sure you check the domain name before clicking on a link to an infected website that will attack your computer with a virus. If you buy something from a phishing website they can steal your credit card information and you will never receive the purchased goods.
Whaling
Whaling is similar to phishing but cybercriminals go after high-ranking executives or corporations. For example, the Snapchat CEO’s name was stolen and used in a spam email that included private data about Snapchat employees.
When it comes to phishing or whaling it is important to verify who has sent you the message. Always check the credentials and look for sneaky, little switches (like 0 for o, or I for 1) in the domain names and the sender’s email addresses. If you’re still uncertain about where the email came from contact the person who sent it to you directly. Reporting these crimes is important for authorities to identify these crimes and stopping them from harming seniors in the future.
Security Software Scams
Security software scams typically involve pop-ups on your computer or smartphone alarming you that the device’s security has been hacked or it is infected with a virus.
The victim will then be instructed to install clean-up software. Downloading the software is putting the virus on your device.
That’s when tech support jumps in and runs a bogus scan of your computer. Turns out the laptop is (supposedly) infected with lots of viruses. It isn’t, they want your money.
The fraudulent tech support team will try to sell a security suite for hundreds of dollars when it’s free to download online.
Official tech support sites are available through Microsoft and other computer company’s. Make sure to contact the manufacturer of your computer first.
Bad Romance
Dating has been forever changed by the internet. Most people find friends and partners on the web. It’s a completely acceptable way to find love. However, there are scam artists out there who are extorting seniors looking for companionship.
Typically referred to as catfishing scams these crimes cost $20 million every year in the United States according to the FBI. The relationship begins online and may continue for many months, even years before the victim is hit with a request for money.
A few tips on identifying catfishers
- If the individual won’t talk to you on the phone or via video chat
- If the relationship gets too serious within a short amount of time
- Bare or new social media profiles
- Excuses, and lots of them
- They ask for money
Sextortion Scams
Adult websites are rife with potential dangers like malware and viruses. It is important to trust every web address you visit. A very useful resource is the Safety Detectives website which provides more in-depth information about how to surf with confidence.
Criminals use adult-themed websites to record innocent visitors as they browse the website.
Then, they blackmail the victim and demand they pay for their privacy. The best defense against this type of crime is strong antiviral software and knowing which websites to trust.
Legitimate adult websites will look professional with properly spelled domain names and an HTTPS tag to protect visitors’ purchases.
If you submit credit card details anywhere on the web make sure you see the HTTPS and the green padlock icon beside the domain name.
Lottery Scams
Typically, a lottery or competition scam will begin with an email stating the recipient has won lots of money. The sender will ask for credit card details or banking information to pay for a small processing fee to transfer the winnings.
You can’t win a lottery that you haven’t entered. Lottery scammers will ask you to keep your big win a secret for security purposes and they will ask for an urgent response. Any urgent request originating online should be viewed with healthy skepticism.
Grandparent Scams
According to the ‘American Journal of Public Health,’ an estimated 5% of the senior population in the United States fall victim to cyber-scams and are the most likely to be targeted by digital thugs. One of the most successful cons is the ‘grandparent scam.’
A senior will receive a text message from a thief pretending to be their grandchild in a terrible and desperate situation where they need funds urgently. The fake grandchild might claim they’re in jail or in a dangerous situation where they need money immediately.
People over the age of 70 are most likely to fall victim to grandparent scams and they lose the most money. A few red flags to identify these cons include asking for the money to be sent by Western Union, via gift card, or through a wire transfer.
Protect Your Online Identity with These Steps
- Monitor credit reports
- Watch online accounts for unauthorized activity
- Ensure your computer is safe from any external threats like viruses with firewalls, complex passwords, ad blockers, antivirus software, and secure online banking
- Spot scams and stay abreast of developing cybercrimes
- Look for a fraudulent activity like new loans, credit cards, department store cards, purchases, or any unknown transaction
