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The number one thing you can do to help them is talk to them about being conned / scammed. That's by far the most likely way for them to get victimized online,
by agf 7y ago
The number one thing you can do to help them is talk to them about being conned / scammed. That's by far the most likely way for them to get victimized online, and the only way that's seriously affected anyone I know.
Since they're not technical, their natural self-defense against this kind of this has trouble functioning online. Talk to them about real world analogs to pop-up ads that look like virus scanner alerts, talk to them about people pretending to be someone they know. Hell, show them the movie "Catch me if you can" and explain the same psychological tactics get used online.
Get them to consider "what do I really know, and is this too good to be true" before they talk to anyone, click a link, or buy anything online -- and they will be fine, if their judgement is otherwise unimpaired.
If they're very late in life, or otherwise have trouble with this kind of thing in the real world, there is unfortunately not much you can do to help them, other than force them to only use pre-installed apps on a tablet that you've selected, like you might with a small child. If they're not willing to do that, then it's unfortunately on them. I've had this experience both with my grandfather and a friend who lives with a brain injury, who are responsible for themselves but don't have the judgement necessary to realize how impaired they are.
And of course, make sure the computer is auto-rebooting to get updates, and they know to call you if they get a virus / malware popup they think could be real.
- nitwit005 7y agoBased on my father and grandmother's interactions, suggesting they call if ever in doubt can be a big help. What saved her from the fake Microsoft support scam was her calling him to ask if she should go to someone cheaper to help with the non-existant issue. Offering to do her taxes prevented some other scam. Although that did require flying out annually due to being so disorganized.
- erklik 7y ago> Based on my father and grandmother's interactions, suggesting they call if ever in doubt can be a big help. However, do understand, that this can lead to the opposite effect of constantly calling on every little thing leading to them becoming even more dependent on you.
- adrianN 7y agoBetter dependent on you than losing their life savings to a scammer.
- z3t4 7y agoI guess the scammers have a larger market due to the internet, but someone who has lived must have been exposed to scams many times in their long life!?
- plasticchris 7y agoThe problem is twofold, they don't have a good mental model of online interactions, and older people become more susceptible to deception as cognitive function declines.
- jliptzin 7y agoAfter hearing about them getting scammed several times I finally had my parents agree to contact me before they are paying for anything online unless it's on Amazon.
- marmot777 7y agoYes
- m12k 7y agoAlso, tell them to be suspicious of email links that require them to log in. If "PayPal" sends an email saying you need to change your password or log in for some other reason, teach them to go to type paypal.com in the browser themselves instead of clicking the link.
- marmot777 7y agoAbsolutely, repeat this a bunch of times even at the risk of being a bit annoying. It's worth it. Make that point. Anyone asking for your password or other sensitive info is very likely a fisher (aka a thief).
- thr0w__4w4y 7y agoWell, they may or may not be a fisher, but they are almost certainly a phisher.
- ThePirateofOz 7y agoShow them some Kitboga videos. He actually will imitate an elderly woman to mess with the scammers. It shows how the scammers work and could be educational... and entertaining. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-j12NvUwhw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-j12NvUwhw