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Contact our Fraud Prevention Experts @ info@nicktec.com if you're a member and believe you're a victim of scam.
In what ways might carers assist?
Knowing the telltale signs of fraud could be helpful if you have an elderly acquaintance or relative. If you observe your loved one beginning to:
Discuss about a new "friend" they made over the phone or online.
Modify their banking practices, such as opening new accounts or making unforeseen withdrawals
radically alter their will or other legal records
The discussion starters listed to the right (under "If you're a carer or family member..") may be of assistance if you're worried.
Greetings from the Elder Fraud Centre.
Elder fraud is becoming a bigger issue, but you don't have to handle it by yourself.
The Roadmap for Staying Safe
Follow along for comprehensive advice on managing elder fraud, directly from our in-house professionals.
Call a family meeting to begin. Everyone will feel more at ease once you've talked about the likelihood of fraud, how to avoid it, and what to do if something doesn't seem right.
Concerning seniors...
Anticipating financial security involves thwarting deception and fraud, which is a crucial aspect of self-care as you get older. In the event that you become incapacitated, a loved one may already be your financial champion or your proxy for making healthcare decisions. To create a strategy against fraud, we also advise collaborating with dependable family members. Think about your age, general health, and financial objectives for a few minutes before moving forward. In what ways might fraud stand in the way of your successes? What aid is available for loved ones?
Express your worries.
I've read of con artists preying on senior citizens. I'm worried because I have a fixed salary. Could we discuss best practices for the internet so that we may all be better prepared?
Ask a reliable person to stand up for you.
"Let's discuss how we can work together to keep me safe, like including me in your identity protection strategy."
If you're a family member or carer...
We performed a study on digital safety with families in January 2022. Almost 60% of respondents expressed concern about an elderly parent becoming a victim of identity theft or being duped by a fraudster.
Regularly talking about typical fraud kinds and how to avoid them will assist family members of all ages remain vigilant.
But keep in mind that elder fraud can be a delicate subject before bringing it up. In order to assist you, we've put together a brief list of pointers and discussion starters.
Let them know you are concerned."I learned recently that there is an increase in internet fraud. I want to make sure you know because I care about you.
Discuss typical scams.
To help you stay safe, let's discuss several prevalent frauds that are now in the news. Are you aware of these?
Keep your age in perspective.
"Since fraud can affect anyone, I'm going to take these precautions as well."
You're in capable hands®
Boost your safety. Thankfully, there are easy steps you can do to help protect your data and accounts. A decent place to start is with these four steps.
Create secure, unique passwords.
Reusing old passwords or using easily guessed personal information, such as your maiden name or birthdate, is not a smart idea. We suggest going for something extensive, intricate, and entirely original. Steer clear of well-known phrases and consecutive digits, and alter your password often.
EASY GUIDE
Consider using a passphrase.
A sentence can be difficult to recall compared to a series of characters, numbers, or symbols. A strong passphrase should be simple to recall and unique to you. Extra credit for substituting special characters and symbols. For example, July_$ummer_pie. Alternatively, utilise a password manager to save yourself some hassle.
Move analogue
You should still write down your passwords, but save the hard copy somewhere secure and apart from your computer. Avoid storing them digitally as that may lead to another vulnerability.
Utilise two-factor authentication.
An additional layer of protection is added to your online accounts with two-factor authentication, sometimes referred to as multi-factor authentication or 2FA. Enabling it makes your account more difficult to hack because it requires a password and an additional verification mechanism, such a one-time code delivered to your phone, in order to log in.
List the accounts you want to keep safe.
Not sure where to begin? Think about compiling a list of the businesses you interact with. Next, update a couple of your accounts at a time, beginning with the most private ones (banking, email, and social media accounts, for example).
Put a credit freeze or fraud alert in place.
It costs nothing to set up a fraud alert, which tells lenders to investigate further before granting loans. Lenders will contact you to confirm a credit application submitted in your name if you have a fraud alert in place. This can assist you in identifying possible identity theft. Do you want more defence? Think about implementing a security freeze. A security freeze, in addition to a fraud alert, stops prospective creditors from obtaining your credit record.
NEXT ACTIONS
To apply or remove a credit freeze, get in touch with any of the three credit bureaus.
Call TransUnion at 800-916-8800.
Phone: 714-830-7000 Experian
Phone: 888-202-4025 Equifax
Make use of a surveillance service
Our identity monitoring services can assist you in spotting risks to your funds and identity so you can take immediate action to limit the harm. If you are logged in, refer to Step 5 for pointers on optimising your account. Not affiliated with us? To find out more about how our plans can assist prevent elder fraud, visit our Plans & Services website.
Adhere to recommended procedures. It's crucial to consider exchanging information carefully whether you're on the phone, emailing someone, or browsing the web. You can follow these suggestions.
Steer clear of social media purchasing.
Fake retail websites are easier to market on social media and appear more authentic than ever. Online scammers may "buy" things, but the products never show up.
We advise you to only shop on the websites of physical retailers you are already familiar with when you purchase online. Entering the URL manually is preferable to clicking links from emails or social media.
PRO TIP
Make sure you are sent to the website of a respectable retail brand when you click to make an online purchase. Look for https:// (instead of http://) in a website's URL before entering payment information; the "'s" stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a security encryption code.
Ditch the prizes and surveys.
Social media connections that appear innocent, like surveys or sweepstakes, can be used by scammers to obtain personal data, including your name and date of birth. Online surveys that offer to compensate you for answering them are probably fraudulent. Remember that certain links are made to entice you in and collect personal information from you, which might result in fraud.
PRO TIP
Have faith in your instincts. Don't interact with an advertisement or message if it seems too good to be true, such as a discount or a random "prize" you've purportedly won. Similarly, never click on a link that appears arbitrary or suspicious that someone messages you.
Avoid making new pals on the internet.
Because it's so simple for someone to fabricate information online, it's wise to exercise caution while interacting with strangers there. A fraudster may "friend" others in your social media network to give the impression that they are a friend of a friend.
You can help by adjusting your privacy settings. Make sure that nobody but your authorised followers can see the content you upload. Even so, exercise caution to avoid oversharing. Certain personal information, such addresses and dates of birth, can be exploited to conduct fraud.
PRO TIP
On social media, interact only with users you know in person or trustworthy brands. Reject strangers' friend requests and direct communications.
Make use of a surveillance service
Our identity monitoring services can assist you in spotting risks to your funds and identity so you can take immediate action to limit the harm. If you are logged in, refer to Step 5 for pointers on optimising your account. Not affiliated with us? To find out more about how our plans can assist prevent elder fraud, visit our Plans & Services website.
Within your email inbox
Be wary of phishing schemes.
You have most likely received phishing emails if you have an email address. (Experts calculate that daily transfers total billions.) It's helpful to remember that phoney emails can be created specifically to steal your money and personal data, so stay safe.
Through email, scammers can pretend to be banks, subscription services, government agencies, tech support agents, financial consultants, or tax preparers, among other service providers. They might also pretend to be a stranger or friend in need.
Any unsolicited email should be viewed with caution, especially if it contains an attachment or link. Never download anything from someone you don't know, even if it seems to be from a reputable company. Never reply with any financial information (credit card number, address, or Social Security number) or personally identifiable information (password, address, or Social Security number). Additionally, disregard any emails you receive from friends or family that appear out of character or don't provide enough context for a download or link.
PRO TIP
A suspicious email is most likely a phishing scam if you see any of these warning signs in it:
typographical mistakes, grammatical mistakes, and hazy logos or images
Demands for funds that are urgent
"Corporate" communications sent from a @yahoo or @gmail address
requests to send gift cards or wire money
On the phone
Be wary of phishing schemes.
Recognise fraudulent texts and calls.
To capture your attention, scammers may use a phone number that looks similar to yours while sending messages or making phone calls. However, if you are unfamiliar with the number, fight the impulse to answer. Simply answering the phone will classify your number as "active," promoting future robocalls even if you are not a victim of fraud.
Be aware that con artists can spoof calls appearing to be from businesses or government agencies, such as the IRS, by manipulating the caller ID on landlines and mobile phones. Caller ID spoofing is a tactic used to gain credibility and trick people into picking up the phone. But keep in mind that trustworthy companies and medical professionals won't text you regarding an invoice or account issue. In addition, the government will never give you a call directly; instead, if they need to communicate with you, they will mail you a letter.
PRO TIP
To cut down on unsolicited calls, register all landline and mobile phone numbers at donotcall.gov on the National Do Not Call list. However, be aware that this won't stop all fraudulent calls.
Stop con artists. What should you do next when you feel someone you're speaking with is a scammer? You can keep secure by taking these swift measures.
Three strategies to foil an apparent scam:
Check the phone number.
Tell someone you need to hang up and give them a call back if they phone and ask for personal information while posing as a representative of a company you trust. Next, confirm the number and give the company a call.
Simply end the call.
Recall that you are in charge. You can just hang up or leave if someone calls you and you think they might be a scammer.
Provide a kind explanation.
When something doesn't seem right, keep a few courteous reasons on hand to use if hanging up feels inappropriate. Say your line, hang up and don't call that number again. Here are some concepts:
Sorry, but I'm unable to speak at this time. I'm leaving the house to have dinner with a friend.
"I apologise, but I am unable to accept requests."
"Thank you; I'll talk to my family about that."
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