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How Online Scammers Prey on Older Users

Thursday, January 23, 2020 11:44

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According to the FBI, cybercrimes against older Americans have increased five times since 2014, costing senior citizens and their loved ones more than $650 billion per year. These are scary numbers, and so it’s important to know how to protect yourself online. Not only are older people more likely to fall prey to online scams, but they are actively targeted in many of these schemes. Fortunately, there are a few basic things you can do to keep yourself protected from this kind of attack.

One of the most common ways that older users are scammed is through phishing emails. These are fraud emails that are packaged to look like advertisements, coupons, and sometimes even official offers from credit services or other places. Often, these kinds of “offers” will ask you put through your credit card information to make a payment. But instead of sending your information you a credible service, you end up sending your information to a fraudster, from whom you’ll probably never hear from again.

It’s important to remember that anyone, regardless of age, race, or other social identities, can receive phishing emails. Unfortunately, older users are more likely to fall for them because older users tend to prefer email over other forms of digital communication. Older users are also less likely to use the internet to shop, and so sometimes can’t tell what looks legitimate and what doesn’t. When in doubt, ask someone. If you’re thinking about sending someone your personal information via email, forward that email to someone you trust to get a second opinion. It’s also worth noting that most credible businesses will not ask you to give them your personal information directly. Online businesses often use digital payment methods like PayPal or Venmo, and will typically direct you to their online storefront if they want you to purchase goods or services from them.

Another common cyberattack is password theft. Annoying though this may be, it is imperative to have different passwords for different accounts. It’s much, much safer to keep a password log than it is to use the same password for every one of your accounts. The reason for this is that, if one password is stolen, then it doesn’t just compromise that one account – it compromises all of them. If you truly feel that you have way too many accounts to make a unique password for all of them, at least make sure that important financial, legal, or healthcare-related accounts have unique passwords.

Frausters and cybercriminals don’t just get personal information through phishing emails. Poorly protected websites can also become easy targets for information thieves. How do you know if a website is secure enough to enter personal information? Take a look at the URL. You should never enter any personal information into a website with a URL that begins with “http.” Only create accounts or enter information through websites that begin with the secure “https.”

If you share a computer with someone else, whether it’s at work or at home, always remember to log out when you’re not using it. Whether this computer is at a customer service desk, a professional office, or a home study, you never want someone else to be doing work under your account. It’s not that you can’t trust your family, roommates, or coworkers with your information, it’s that you can’t trust them to have the same careful internet habits that you have. One wrong click can make you vulnerable to cyberattack. If you don’t remember ever visiting the site you’re now getting spam emails from, it’s going to make protecting yourself that much harder.

Public wireless access is convenient, but it’s not secure. If you do a lot of work at a library, community center, or local cafe, consider purchasing a VPN (virtual private network). That way, other users on the public network won’t be able to see you – or your information.

Finally, it’s critically important to immediately file a report whenever you suspect fraud. Even if the attempt was unsuccessful, it’s essential to let the authorities know so that no one else can fall victim to their schemes.

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Comments

Total 1 comment

DJ Dog

Hey when the prince of Nigeria ask for assistance help a brother out.

Jan 23, 2020, 11:49 am 0 Reply

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