We are doing more and more online, especially now during the pandemic. Fraud, scams, and identity theft of the elderly and other vulnerable adults is still a notable concern of loved ones and relatives.
Our Internet habits can leave us exposed to scams, identity theft and physical harm. With more users accessing the Internet through mobile devices, these risks are changing and growing quickly.
Just take a minute to think about what you do online, if someone entered your personal emails what information can they find?
Are you updating the password? Strong passwords are of course key to your security. Keep forgetting! Use a password manager to keep track of your passwords or write it down, yes, you can write your login passwords down. This recommendation goes against everything we’ve been told about protecting ourselves online. But password managers aren’t for everyone, and some leading security experts, suggest that keeping your login information on a physical sheet of paper or in a notebook is a viable way to track your credentials.
Be cautious when entering your credit card details and personal information on a shopping website. Scammers can create fake websites that look official requesting you to provide personal or financial information. Often they will look very similar, and only a few tiny details may be different.
There are also websites that are set up to look like a copy of a service offered by government websites. For example, there are websites that offer to help you apply for a passport renewal or a new driving licence. Although they are not necessarily illegal, these websites charge extra money if you use them rather than going directly through the official government department. Scammers will send bogus emails in the hope that people will enter their personal details.
Top tips:
Make sure that you shred all documents that could be useful to criminals – these will be things like bank statements, utility bills, and other important documents.
Remind friends and family members that they should never provide personal information over the telephone, unless they initiated the phone call.
Ensure that a ‘No Cold Calling’ sign is placed visibly by the front door of an elderly person.
Educate your elderly relative or friend about the risk of becoming prey to email and phishing scams.
Keep an eye out for differences in behavior or lifestyle of those who could fall victim to scams. They may have been affected and be unable to let you know.
Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Secure. When you go online in a public place, for example by using a public Wi-Fi connection, you have no direct control over its security.
Be Careful What You Download. A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Choose Strong Passwords. Select strong passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to demystify. A strong password is one that is unique and complex—at least 15 characters long, mixing letters, numbers and special characters.
Make Online Purchases From Secure Sites. Any time you make a purchase online, you need to provide credit card or bank account information—just what cybercriminals are most eager to get their hands on. Only supply this information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections they should be marked by a padlock icon next to the address bar.
Keep Your Antivirus Program Up To Date. Internet security software cannot protect against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware—though you should make sure it’s to date. Be sure to stay current with your operating system’s updates and updates to applications you use. They provide a vital layer of security.
Top scams:
Lottery and Prize Draw Scams: Typically, this scam will tell the victim that they have won a large cash prize, but are asked to send over a fee in order to receive it. Usually, these are prizes to competitions that have never been entered.
Phishing Scams: A common example of a phishing scam is where a caller will pose as a bank or building society, they will tell the victim that there is a problem with their account and ask for sensitive details or cash to resolve it.
Identity Theft: This will usually take the form of a telephone caller that is conducting a survey. They will use clever methods of obtaining personal details that can then be used to steal the victim’s identity.
Fake Charities: This scam involves calls and door-to-door visits from individuals claiming to be working on behalf of a charity. They ask the victim for money and lead the victim into believing that it will be going to a charity.
PPI Scams: Scammers will call posing to be part of a claims handling company. The victim is told that they have been awarded compensation for mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance, when they may not have even taken out a loan.
