How to Protect Your Elderly Parents from Scams

The world is full of dishonest people seeking to trick people into giving away money and personal information. In 2022, more than £1.2 billion was stolen from consumers. The most common methods are false phone calls, fake websites, and deceitful emails. With fraud occurring at such a high rate, it is more important than ever that we protect our elderly parents from scams. Here are some tips that could help keep their money out of sinister hands.

Identifying Scams

Often it can seem no one is safe from scams. These criminals will target people by phone, with emails, in the post, on the doorstep, or on the internet. Some of them are particularly clever and can appear to be genuine.

However, you can usually identify a scam using this golden rule: “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Sometimes, though, this rule isn’t enough. Therefore, it is important to teach your elderly loved ones some of the following signs of a scam.

Doorstep Scams

Whilst this is a less common method as we increasingly move towards a cashless society, opportunistic scammers will still choose to turn up on the doorstep and ask for money. Some may pose as builders, claiming that there is something on the house that they can fix for a small fee. Others may claim to be charity workers, collecting for a good cause.

Whilst these may occasionally be genuine, your loved ones should always be suspicious. They should never be hesitant to ask for an identity card as proof. If they claim to represent a company, it is perfectly acceptable to call that company to confirm their identity. Always close the door on them if they refuse or try to evade the question.

Further advice is to make sure all other doors and windows are locked when you answer the front door. Some scams involve someone holding your attention at the door whilst a partner in crime sneaks into your home to steal money or items.

Finally, your loved one should always feel able to call for help. This may mean getting in touch with you, a neighbour, or the police. Activating a personal alarm could be one means of arranging help.

Telephone Scams

These types of scams are a favourite amongst criminals, as they can target many people in hopes of catching someone off-guard. They will often claim to be from your loved one’s bank, or from HMRC. Other scams include masquerading as insurance companies or online shopping brands.

As part of these scams, your loved ones will likely be asked for account details or their card number. However, banks will never ask for this kind of information over the phone, and therefore the calls should be ended as quickly as possible.

Another method used by scammers is to claim that your loved ones owe money. This creates a sense of urgency that is designed to trick your loved ones into giving up money without thinking. Your elderly parent should never assume these calls are genuine; if money is genuinely owed, they will receive letters instead (though they should still be careful).

There has also been an increase in scam text messages. Often, these will appear to be from the Royal Mail or other couriers, asking you to click on a link to pay postage on a parcel that cannot be delivered. Due to the rise in online shopping over recent years, this has become a very popular method. The most important thing is to never click this link, even if it looks genuine. If your relative is unsure, they should go to their local post office or contact the courier directly to inquire whether the text is genuine. In most cases, however, it will be fake.

If your loved one receives a text that they believe to be a scam, they can forward the number to 7726, where it will be reported to the government scam department.

Postal Scams

These are not as commonplace as they used to be, with many forms of communication moving to paperless methods. However, some scammers will still try tricking your loved ones into parting with their money.

Generally, these scams will urge your parent to call a number. A letter may claim they have won a prize or that money is owed. When your loved one makes the call, they will be charged an extortionate fee only to receive nothing in return.

If your elderly parent is unsure about anything they receive in the post, it may be worth checking it with the police. They may also be able to advise them whether similar letters have been received by neighbours.

Internet Scams

Nowadays, it seems that everyone is using the internet, and for good reason. However, this also means that the scammers are online too. Online scams can show up in several ways, including:

• Suspicious emails
• Fake websites
• Pop-Ups

Scammers are always looking to steal personal information and money and will use various methods to try taking them from you. One of the most popular techniques is to pose as a trustworthy source. This is called social engineering.

Emails may claim to be from your parent’s bank or the government, asking them to send money or information. There may be attachments that contain viruses, which will steal data from their computer. If an email looks suspicious, it is best to ignore it.

With the rise of online shopping, scammers have also taken to website “spoofing”. This is where they create a copy of a real website, using a URL that is slightly different from the official one. For example, they may replace an “L” with a “1”.

One of the best ways to stay safe online is to use different passwords on every account. If you are worried about forgetting passwords, it may be worth using a password manager such as Dashlane. Remind your loved ones only to click on links when they know they are genuine, and that if they are unsure, they should find their way to the website a different way.

Cybercrime

Though the internet is an invaluable resource, it does have certain risks. It is important to use it carefully to avoid being caught out by scams or other harmful content. The above is an example of phishing scams, which attempt to trick your loved ones into thinking an email is from a reputable source. Using this method, fraudsters can steal personal information and money.

Identity theft is one of the greatest concerns for many people. This involves scammers getting their hands on personal information that can be used to impersonate your loved one online. By doing this, they may be able to use your loved one's accounts to make purchases or take out loans. The scammer will get the product or money while your loved one is left with the debts.

As well as tricking people into handing over details such as bank account numbers or PIN codes, some scams install malware on your loved one's devices. Malware, also known as malicious software, is a program scammers sneak onto a computer or phone.

Here are some terms relating to cybercrime that you should be aware of:

• Bots – Programs that perform a particular function for someone.
• DDoS – A coordinated attack designed to overload a website.
• Hacking – When a person gains unauthorised access to a computer or phone for malicious purposes.
• Tampering – A cyberattack that changes or manipulates data.
• Worms – This is a form of malware that is installed on one computer, then replicates and spreads to other devices on the same network.

Malware can be installed on a device by downloading untrustworthy files or clicking on email attachments.

It is advised that your loved ones use antivirus and a firewall on their digital devices. These programs detect malicious files and control network access, preventing untrustworthy sources from connecting to their internet connection, computer, or phone.

Virgin Media have an in-depth cyber security quiz on their website that will help your loved ones identify different types of scams and improve their online safety.

Support from Careline365

It is important that your loved ones are always keeping themselves safe. Now that you know how to keep them safe from scams, why not consider providing extra peace of mind in case of a fall at home? By purchasing a Careline alarm you will be putting them in safe hands, confident that help will be available 24/7, 365 days a year. Our Care Team are always ready to support your loved one in an emergency.

To find out more about our TSA-accredited service, get in touch by calling 0800 030 8777, or use our contact form. You can find more advice on finances, health, and staying safe by checking out our blog.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on 31st May 2024 to reflect current information.