How To Protect Your Senior Parent From Online Scams

Every year seniors lose billions of dollars to scams, and these days a huge number of those scams happen online. Seniors are less Internet-savvy than other groups, and unless your mom or dad knows how to spot a scam online they could end up being a victim of online scammers.

Scammers like to prey on seniors who are lonely, which is one of the reasons why romance scams are so popular. Your mom or dad may meet someone on social media and not realize that the profile belongs to a scammer. And your senior parent could end up losing a lot of money.

Social media can be a great way for seniors living on their own to stay connected to friends and family, get social engagement, and get the mental stimulation they need. But it’s important for your mom or dad to use social media safely and to know how to recognize scams online.

There are some things that you can do to protect your mom or dad if they are going to use social media or be online like:

Get Companion Care At Home

Companion care at home is specialized care for seniors who are living alone. A companion will visit your mom or dad on a set schedule to spend time hanging out with them, play games with them, share meals with them, and talk to them. If your mom or dad has companion care at home they will spend less time looking for social connection online.

A companion can also help your mom or dad keep their social profiles locked down and recognize any potential scammers who contact them through social media.

Teach Them About Common Scams

One of the best ways to protect your parent is to educate them about the types of scams they might encounter online. Explain how scammers use fake emails, pop-up ads, or messages to trick people into giving away money or personal information.

Common scams include phishing emails that pretend to be from a bank, offers of fake lottery winnings, or tech support scams claiming their computer has a virus. Show them examples of these scams, so they know what to look out for.

Help Them Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

A strong password is essential for keeping online accounts secure. Help your parent create passwords that are unique, long, and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easy-to-guess information like birthdays or names of pets.

If they have trouble remembering passwords, consider setting up a password manager, which stores all their passwords in one secure place. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication on their accounts whenever possible.

Set Up Safe Online Practices

Establish habits that make your parent’s online activity safer. Teach them to only use secure, trusted websites for shopping or banking. Encourage them to be cautious about sharing personal information online, such as their Social Security number, credit card details, or home address.

Remind them that legitimate companies or organizations will never ask for sensitive information through email or text. Let them know to ask their companion or you if they have any doubts about an email or a message from social media before they click on it.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in East Hampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at (631) 685-5001