Law enforcement discovers more internet scams against seniors every day in the United States and other parts of the world. Fraudsters lure seniors in over social media sites by pretending to be someone they’re not.
Internet scams against seniors are a growing threat. The elderly lose an estimated $3 billion every year to fraud, and Internet scams are responsible for the bulk of this crime.
Many seniors are not well-equipped to protect themselves from online fraud. They lack the technical know-how to spot scams, or they may not be aware of recent scam trends.
To help prevent your senior loved ones from falling victim to online fraud, read on for a list of the most common internet scams against seniors, tips for recognizing them, and steps for preventing them.
11 Evil Internet Scams Against Seniors
Phishing Scams
A phishing scam is an attempt to get your personal information by posing as a legitimate company or organization. You will receive communication via email, social media, or phone and need to provide personal information such as your name, address, and Social Security Number.
Thieves also request your account information, including your credit card number, bank account number, or password. These emails often look like they’re from a company you do business with, such as a credit card company or a bank. A phishing email will contain a link that can install a virus on your computer so the scammer can access all of your personal information.
Fake Health Cures
According to the Federal Trade Commission, fake health cures are a significant threat to seniors online. The FTC cautions that when you see advertisements for miracle cures, they’re usually too good to be true and can be dangerous and even deadly, depending on what they claim to treat.
Scammers target seniors by email, social media, and websites that seniors visit. They offer products that promise to cure illnesses like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. They claim their products are safe, effective, and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA does not approve most of these products, and some of them are dangerous for your health. Do not buy any product that claims to cure an illness without speaking to your doctor or another qualified medical practitioner.
Online Dating Scam
According to a 2021 study by Choice Mutual Insurance Agency, 13% of seniors have used an online dating site or app within the last five years. Unfortunately, this has also made older people more susceptible to online dating scams.
In a typical scenario, someone contacts a victim through an online dating service and quickly befriends them. Once they’ve gained the victim’s trust, they ask for money or personal information.
For instance, they could claim to be in trouble and need money. They may also say they urgently need your help to transfer money out of their country or ask you to cash checks for them.
The scammer will then make up some excuse not to meet you in person and instead try to contact you on the phone or online as much as possible, so it’s harder for you to detect their lies.
Gift Offers
Some online scams against seniors include gift offers that are not free. For example, you may receive an offer for a gift or trial offer. But if you accept the offer, you must pay shipping costs or provide your credit card number.
The scam artists often charge your card each month, and you must cancel your subscription before they stop charging you.
If you receive a gift offer, do not give out any personal information until you have contacted the real company making the offer.
Grandparent Scams
In a grandparent scam, the victim gets a call from someone pretending to be a grandchild or other relative in trouble, or someone pretending to be an attorney or police officer working on behalf of the grandchild/relative.
The scammer says that the relative is in jail/hospital or some other emergency and needs money immediately. They may say that they cannot speak freely because they are being watched by police officers, who will not let them use phones. If the victim appears wary, they may even give personal details about their supposed relative to make themselves seem more credible.
They then instruct the victim to send money via wire transfer. Sometimes, the victim is told not to tell other family members about this “emergency” not to worry them unnecessarily.
Social Security Impersonation Scam
Social Security Administration (SSA) impersonation scams involve thieves who call seniors claiming to be from the SSA, telling them they need their Social Security Number (SSN) to issue a new card, update records, or confirm an SSN.
It is an attempt to steal the person’s SSN and use it for identity theft purposes. The caller will either ask for the SSN over the phone or direct the senior to a website where they can steal their sensitive personal information.
IRS Impersonation Scam
The IRS impersonation scam is not new, but it has grown in frequency and sophistication over the past few years.
This scam occurs when a person posing as an IRS agent contacts you and tells you that you owe back taxes or penalties. The caller may threaten you with arrest if you don’t pay immediately and often demand that you pay with a credit card or wire transfer.
If this happens to you, hang up. The IRS does not conduct business this way. If the caller persists, tell them that your attorney will contact them.
To avoid falling for this scam, remember that the IRS will never contact you through email and will never ask you for your credit card/banking information over the phone.
Tech Support Scams
These scams usually begin with a pop-up or email message pretending to be from a legitimate company like Microsoft or Apple, warning that a virus has compromised your computer.
They may also claim that someone hacked your computer and offer to run an inspection to find out who is controlling it. In either case, they will ask you for remote access to your computer so they can fix it.
Once they have remote access, they can install malware on your computer or steal personal information and financial data. In addition, these hackers can lock your computer screen and demand a ransom. If you don’t pay, they can delete your data.
Nigerian 419 Advanced Fee Scam
The Nigerian 419 Scam is one of the most common Internet scams against senior citizens. The scam is also known as the “Nigerian Money Offer” or “419 Advance Fee Fraud.” The name comes from Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, which addresses this type of fraud.
This scam originated in Nigeria. However, people from many other countries use the same tactics to get money from seniors and others.
The recipient receives an email claiming to be from a wealthy business or government official who needs help to transfer funds out of their country. While the story varies slightly, the basic premise is that someone has money in a bank account and needs your help to transfer it out of their country. In exchange for your help, you will receive a large amount of money as your reward for helping with the transfer.
To complete this transaction, the scammer asks the recipient to provide personal banking information to set up an account where they can transfer the funds. They also ask seniors to pay fees and taxes associated with this transaction.
Once you complete all the transactions, there is no money in the new account that was set up for transfer, and no way to recover your money.
Malware Scams
Another common scam uses malware. It is an online virus that can infect your computer, phone, or tablet by directing you to a website or getting you to click on an email attachment.
Malware can steal your personal information like passwords and banking information or allow someone else to control your computer and monitor your activity.
The good news is that you can avoid malware by refraining from clicking on any suspicious attachments or links in emails you don’t recognize. If you’re unsure if something is safe, contact and verify the company they claim to represent before opening anything they sent you.
Social Media Messenger Scams
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become the go-to communication channels for seniors. They provide a direct way to attach photos and videos, and it’s simple to keep up with friends and family in real-time. However, these platforms are also susceptible to scams that target the elderly.
Messenger scams can be very convincing, as they often appear to come from people you know and trust. For example, the scammer may pretend to be a friend or relative that needs money quickly.
Or, they may ask you to donate to a charity (a fake account). They may even send you malicious links that contain malware designed to steal your personal information.
Here are some tips for staying safe:
• Never share your financial information, including account numbers or passwords
• Don’t open links from people you don’t know, or from friends until you verify if they sent you the link
• Don’t post your birthdate on social media sites. If a scammer has access to your birthdate, they may use it to access your accounts.
What is the Best Way to Handle Internet Scams Against Your Loved Ones?
If someone scammed your elderly loved one out of their money or identity, it’s difficult to know how to react. The first thing you should do is take a deep breath, stay calm, and try not to panic. They are likely already feeling embarrassed and ashamed that thieves took advantage of them, so don’t make it worse.
After you’ve processed what has happened, help your elderly loved one file a report with the local police department. They will determine if you need to contact your local FBI office or other law enforcement agency.
If a website scammed them, make screenshots of the pages where the scam occurred. Keep this, chat messages, and other email messages as future evidence.
Then notify the web hosting company. They can remove the illegal site to prevent others from being taken advantage of in the future.
Contact your loved one’s bank or credit card company if the scammers compromised their account information.
How to Prevent Internet Scams Against Seniors Before They Happen
We all worry about our parents, grandparents, or other seniors falling prey to an internet scam. Unfortunately, many of the scams that plague the Internet target people who may be lonely and vulnerable, such as seniors.
If you want to protect your elders from these scams, you can do a few things.
1. Install antivirus software on their computers.
2. Install ad-blocking software so they never even see those annoying pop-ups asking for their credit card information.
3. Teach them how to recognize phishing emails and never open attachments from strangers or click on links in emails from senders they don’t recognize.
4. If you’re concerned about your seniors’ online safety, you can install software that allows you to monitor their online activities without being overbearing or intrusive.
Internet Scams Against Seniors - Conclusion
Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of Internet users, and they are thus also more susceptible to being scammed. At 70 years old, our grandmothers and grandfathers were not born with a computer in their hands but are now being exposed to the Internet and how it works at a later stage than most, if not all, of us.
Prepare yourselves and your loved ones. The Internet isn’t always safe, because scammers are always there. There is no way to stop fraud completely against the elderly. Therefore, seniors must learn to be aware of their surroundings.
Seniors should use their sense of judgment and watch for any common scams. It will be up to you as a family member or friend to help protect those who need help and watch over them as they age.
About Applewood Our House – Applewood Our House is an assisted living memory care facility that offers a safe and secure environment for seniors with dementia. We have five beautiful homes in Lakewood, Golden, and Arvada, Colorado.
Our residents are a part of our family and treated with dignity and respect.