Is It Too Good to be True? Explaining Common Scams Targeting Seniors

Between the recent AT&T data breach and the massive social security number leak both happening within the past couple of weeks, scammers will soon be more active than usual-- and what's worse, they will be more convincing, too. Since scammers are now far more likely to have access to your personal information, they are also more likely to be able to tailor their scams to make you more likely to fall for them. Knowing that can feel scary and overwhelming, especially for senior citizens (who may not be as tech-savvy as younger generations.) That's why it is important to understand how scams work, check up on your loved ones, and spread the word.

Here are the most common types of scams and how to spot them:

1. Love scams

Love scams, also called romance scams, are a type of scam where a fraudster pretends to be interested in a romantic relationship with you. Their goal is to gain your trust until you feel comfortable providing them with money or other favors. They often create fake pictures using AI or steal photos from another person's profile. Here are some red flags to look out for:

• Moving fast: If someone you've just met becomes very interested in you out of nowhere, chances are they have an ulterior motive.

• Won't meet in person, won't video chat: If they refuse to meet in person or have a video call with you, it is very likely that they are not who they say they are. They will make countless excuses as to why they won't let you see them.

• Details don't add up: If they keep making different excuses, give you conflicting details, or contradict themselves often, they are likely a scammer.

• Asking for money: When anyone online asks you for money for any reason, there is a very good chance that they are not telling you the truth. You should never send money to someone you haven't met in person.

• Photos don't look real: Telling someone they're so beautiful they don't look real may be a compliment, but over the internet, they really might not be. Scammers use generative AI to create fake photos. If something about their photos looks "off", that's a big red flag.

It's important to talk to your loved ones (like real-life friends and family) about your relationships online, be it a budding romance or just a friendship. They can help you spot red flags when rose-tinted glasses might be getting in the way.

To find out more about love scams and what to do if you've been victimized, click here.

2. Phishing

Phishing is when someone poses as a trusted source to gather your personal information. They will often pretend to be a government agency, bank, or retailer. Most often, they will send you unsolicited links, ask for login info, or ask for other personal information. Here's what to look out for:

• Unsolicited contact: A legitimate company will never contact you first (over phone or email) to ask you for personal information.

• Strange email address: Always make sure the email address someone is sending from is legitimate.

• Fear: If a company is threatening you or otherwise trying to scare you, it is very unlikely they are legitimate-- especially if you have no idea where their threats might be coming from.

• Asking for gift cards: This is a surefire way to tell if you are being scammed. Scammers often (but don't always!) ask for gift cards because they are not easily traceable. Legitimate companies will never, ever ask you to pay them by buying gift cards.

When you receive communication from a company or agency, it is good practice to find their phone number from a trusted source and call them to make sure it was truly them. If it wasn't, make sure to tell someone you trust and block whoever called you or sent you a suspicious email. It is important to prevent fraudsters from contacting you again in the future.

To find out more about phishing and what to do if you've been victimized, click here.

3. Tech Support Scams

Scammers will often pose as tech support to gain access to your computer. This can be extremely damaging, as tech support scammers will have access to everything you have saved on your device-- including credit card numbers, social security numbers, private photos and documents, login information, and more. Here's some signs:

• Online pop-ups claiming your computer has a virus: Only the anti-virus software installed on your computer can really tell you if you have a virus. If any source outside of your anti-virus tries to send you messages claiming your device is infected, don't interact with it!

• Unsolicited contact: Much like with phishing scams, tech support scammers contact you first through pop-ups, emails, or by asking you to call a number.

• Asking you to download remote software: Be very skeptical when you're asked to download "remote software", as it gives the person on the other end full access to your device.

Unless you contacted them first, never interact with someone claiming to be tech support. Take it from the real tech support folks: We will never contact you first!

4. Grandparent Scams

Much like love scams, grandparent scams play on your emotions. This is done by pretending to be a beloved member of the family (like a grandchild) to try and get money from the victim. They often pretend they are stranded in another country or need to be bailed out of jail.

• Doesn't talk like your loved one: If they don't speak or write the way your loved one does, they probably aren't.

• Doesn't know things your loved one knows: If you ask them questions your loved one knows and they cannot answer correctly, they are likely a scammer.

You should always verify that it is actually your loved one you are speaking with. This can be done by calling other family members, such as their parents or siblings, to see if the story you've been given is true.

To find out more about grandparent scams and what to do if you've been victimized, click here.

5. Online Shopping Scams

In this day and age, online shopping is a common part of our lives. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of that. Here's some signs that the retailer you're purchasing from is not legitimate:

• Small website: You should stick to reputable stores. If you've never heard of the store before (and nobody else has, either!), it might not be a good idea to give them your personal information.

• Deals are too good: If the prices are ridiculously low, it's probably too good to be true.

• The address bar says "connection insecure": If the padlock icon to the left of your address bar is not locked and the address does not start with "https", you should not give the website any personal info.

To find out more about online shopping scams and what to do if you've been victimized, click here.

Conclusion

Phew! That's a lot to keep track of, right? It can be hard to remember so many different kinds of scams. Luckily, it all boils down to just a few points:

1. If they are trying to scare you or flatter you, that's a red flag.

2. If they reach out to you first claiming to be someone you trust, always check and make sure.

3. Never give money to someone you haven't met in person!

4. Never download something or click a link unless you know what it is for certain.

Now that you've read this article, you've got all the tools you need to browse online with no fear. Have fun, stay safe, and please consider visiting our Senior Cybersecurity Day event for more tips and help!