When it comes to tech safety in today’s digital world, people we need to look out for are the ones from slightly older generations, as they tend to get targeted.
Now, scams and schemes to acquire people’s personal information via their devices are super elaborate, and because they didn’t grow up learning about today’s most common tech, seniors are often victims of what tech pros call ‘grandparent’ scams. Read more about three signs you or a loved one could be falling prey to one of these scams below.
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1. Distressed Calls From A 'Grandchild'
One of the scariest trends with these types of scams is people imitating others, especially younger, vulnerable people, like grandchildren, in order to trick older individuals.
"The victim receives a call that sounds exactly like their grandchild, sometimes crying and in distress and asking with lots of urgency," explains cybersecurity pro Shlomi Beer. "Voice impersonation tech allows scammers to do this with just a 3-second clip from a TikTok or Instagram video from the real grandchild's account. The grandparent believes they are talking to their family, bypassing the natural suspicion they would have for a stranger."
2. Texts Claiming To Be From Your Bank Or Impersonating Another Source
This night sounds obvious, but scammers today are getting better and better at sending out texts that impersonate important sources, including your bank, a go-to delivery service, and more. In these texts, scammers will often include links they want you to click on to further give them your information.
"Attackers send texts pretending to be from delivery companies, banks, HMRC, Apple, or Google, urging users to click a link or 'verify' their account," adds tech pro Darren Kimuli. "These messages often look authentic and use urgency to push quick action. Clicking the link can lead to credential theft or malware installation."
"Never tap links in unsolicited texts, even if they look official. Instead, log in through the organization's real website or app to check for alerts," he continues. "Enable two‑factor authentication so even if credentials are stolen, attackers can't easily access your accounts. Blocking unknown senders and reporting spam also reduces exposure."
3. Being Sworn To 'Secrecy'
Finally, when it comes to these types of scams, victims are often highly encouraged to stay tight-lipped and keep their mouths shut about any interactions with them, a tell-tale sign that it's not a good situation.
"Scammers demand secrecy, sometimes with threats," adds Chad Butler. They may warn victims that their situation is part of a federal investigation and that they are legally required to keep everything confidential. Breaking confidence will invite federal criminal prosecution. Scammers know that if victims begin speaking with family and friends, the scam is dead. Oftentimes, the act of verbally explaining the scam to another person will help the victim suddenly realize that they have been duped."
