As most of us are using the internet to pay bills, interact with friends and connect with work colleagues, others are using it as a screen to hide behind. A screen to hide behind while targeting elderly people with scams and fraudulent schemes.
Around half of over 65s can’t use the internet safely, a statistic that is unfortunately music to the ears of fraudsters and scammers. And with 3 in 4 of those over 65 using the internet, it leaves a pretty large pool of vulnerable people to target.
If you find yourself in the over-65 bracket but also want to get to grips with modern technology, the most important thing is to be aware of the types of scams that exist and how you can take steps to prevent yourself from falling victim.
The most common way that fraudsters will look to target elderly people online is through what’s known as a phishing scam. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) states that a phishing scam occurs when criminals use fake emails, text messages or phone calls to trick victims into handing over private information or visiting a fraudulent website.
There are over 3 billion phishing emails sent every single day. Here are some of the most common types of phishing emails:
Family Member Scam
What is the family member scam?
The family member phishing scam is when scammers pose as a family member via email or text. It’s common for scammers to use WhatsApp to impersonate family members, often stating they’ve lost their phone and are contacting them through their friend’s number.
The aim of the family member scam is usually to get you to transfer money to the scammer’s bank account. Often, the cover story will include an urgent requirement for funds to be sent to cover a lost or stolen device, vet fees or something similar.
Tips to avoid the family member scam
If you ever receive a message from someone claiming to be a family member, the first thing you should do is proceed with caution. Don’t click any links and don’t hand over any sensitive information before verifying their identity.
Often, scammers will just address their target with a generic family name like “Hi Mum” or “Hello Grandma”, so If you do receive a suspicious WhatsApp message, ring the family member that they are impersonating immediately.
If you can’t get hold of the family member, reply to the suspicious message asking for the sender’s name or ask a question that a scammer wouldn’t be able to answer, such as the name of a family pet.
Investment Scam
What is the investment scam?
The investment scam is, as the name suggests, a scam designed around fake investment opportunities. As elderly people often start to look for a way to make money post-retirement, this makes them the perfect target. The reality is that these investment opportunities will only leave you looking for a debt advisor.
While most investment scams are centred around forex, stocks or cryptocurrency opportunities, scammers may try to tempt potential victims to put their money into a charity.
Tips to avoid the investment scam
The easiest way to avoid fraudulent investment schemes is to only deal with brokers that you have made first contact with.
Another telltale sign of a phishing scam disguised as an investment opportunity is unrealistic returns or opportunities that seem too good to be true. If you’re contacted with opportunities that are sold as ‘exclusive to you’ or that are only available ‘for a limited time’, be extremely cautious and don’t hand over any bank details until you have fully researched the company/broker in question.
Parcel Scam
What is the parcel scam?
A fraudulent parcel scam is when criminals pose as a delivery company, claiming to have possession of one of your parcels. Often, the message will ask for payment to cover something such as unexpected shipping or import fees. If you are an elderly person expecting a delivery, these scams can seem very real, especially as fraudsters can accurately recreate delivery companies’ websites and emails.
Tips to avoid the parcel scam
If you receive an email asking for payment relating to a delivery, the first thing to do is check if you are expecting a delivery from the company in question. If not, it is almost certainly a scam.
If you are expecting a delivery, however, ring the company directly and deal with them over the phone. It’s important you don’t use a phone number included in the email itself, as this could just be a direct line to the fraudster.