As your parents get older, they may become more vulnerable to scams and spam. Because spammers are constantly looking for easy targets, it’s important to take steps to protect them from fraud and identity theft.
In this guide, you’ll find practical ways to protect your elderly parents from spammers and give them peace of mind while keeping their finances and personal information safe.
I promise… this is something you’ll want to get ahead of the curve on rather than trying to clean up afterwards.
Install apps or services that block calls
Installing call blocking apps will prevent unwanted spam calls and telemarketers from bothering your elderly parents. These services block known scammers and allow them to manage incoming calls with ease.
Many cell phone providers can even filter out these unwanted calls.
For more information: 10 daily habits that will quickly increase your financial knowledge
Set strong passwords for online accounts
Help your parents create strong passwords to protect their online accounts. Strong passwords make it harder for hackers to break in and steal personal information or money.
Look into a password manager to help you, such as Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass. This allows you to seamlessly help them remotely as well.
For more information: 12 Flawless Steps to Organize Your Personal Finances
Encourage them to avoid sharing personal information online
Remind your parents not to share sensitive information such as social security numbers, banking information, or addresses online. By limiting what they share, scammers can’t gain access to their personal information.
This may seem simple, but everyone needs a reminder with the convenience of social media.
For more information: 15 common sense steps to protect yourself from hackers
Add their phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry
Registering their phone number on the National Do Not Call List will reduce the number of telemarketing calls they receive. It’s a simple step to protect them from constant spam calls and potential fraud.
For more information: 20 Money Saving Tips for Frugal Living for Retirees
Teach them to recognize phishing emails and scams
Talk to your parents about phishing emails and how to spot them. Knowing what to look for can help them avoid providing personal information or clicking links that could lead to scams or identity theft.
Also emphasize that these spammers are underhanded and creative. Therefore, always ask them to check in with you first.
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Check their financial accounts for suspicious activity
Help your parents check their bank and credit card accounts regularly. Monitoring for unknown transactions can identify problems early and stop fraud before it causes serious financial damage.
For more information: 10 Must Have Financial Goals to Achieve Success
Use two-factor authentication for important accounts
Adding two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your parents’ accounts. This makes it more difficult for hackers to gain access, even if they obtain login credentials.
For many retirees who do not have text messaging capabilities, you may need to use your cell phone number to verify. Another layer of security.
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Limit unsolicited email by unsubscribing from junk mail services
Help your parents reduce the amount of junk email they receive by unsubscribing from services that send unsolicited offers. Less mail means less risk of falling into scams or misleading offers.
Go to DMAchoice and register them. There is a small fee, but the less future hassle is worth it.
For more information: 16 Famous Scams It’s easy for retirees to fall for
Help them review unknown phone numbers and emails before responding
If your parents receive calls or emails from numbers or addresses they don’t recognize, remind them to read it or ask for help before responding. It’s an easy way to avoid potential scams.
Remember, these scammers are that good!
More information: Can my parents retire? 12 important points to consider
Regularly update the security software on their devices
Keep their devices safe by regularly updating antivirus and security software. This helps protect them from malware, viruses and other online threats.
Also teach them that if anything flashes, they should turn it off immediately and call you for help.
For more information: 5 Notable Differences Between Android and Android. Apple: Which One Should You Buy?
Encourage them not to click on unknown links or attachments
Teach your parents not to click on unknown links or download attachments in emails or text messages. Clicking on this could expose them to hackers or malware.
Even better: never click on links, especially those that lead to your financial information.
For more information: 15 Daily Habits to Stay Financially Independent
Report suspicious messages or calls to the appropriate authorities
If your parents receive suspicious calls or messages, encourage them to report them to authorities. By reporting scams you can prevent others from falling victim to the same schemes.
Every major company also has a fraud department and will investigate the suspicious email.
For more information: Ultimate Guide to Retirement and Estate Planning
Be proactive in their lives
Stay involved in your parents’ lives when it comes to finances and technology. Regular communication can help you detect problems early and prevent them from becoming a target for scammers.
They will probably be relieved when they get help. I always say that the internet and technology are still very new, and they may be set in their old ways.
For more information: 20 Things You Absolutely Need to Do to Help Your Elderly Parents with Their Finances
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