What is a Scam?

A scam is any type of fraudulent or deceptive act designed to cheat someone out of money or valuable information. It can take many forms. Phishing is a type of scam and will be addressed specifically later in this section.

Scammers and Phishers have gotten so sophisticated that it is difficult even for some experts to determine whether an email is real or fake. It is even harder for people with limited technology skills to understand what to avoid and how to stay safe online. Many older adults may not know about scams and phishing campaigns that are being used to target them.

Older adults who grew up in a setting where trust and politeness were highly valued, can be easily be taken advantage of. Scammers take advantage of them by being unusually courteous and kind. Older adults have a wealth of experience in judging the character of people they meet in person. They may have developed fewer skills for judging the character of people and companies online. Many seniors are also more trusting and respectful of "official-looking material" or people who claim to be an authority figure so are more apt to fall for scams.

Older adults are often targeted for phishing and scamming schemes because they have had more time to amass more money, belongings, and retirement savings. Some older adults' ability to think and judge may become cloudy and affect their ability to detect suspicious behavior. Some older adults also have limited support systems. They may not have anyone to ask for help when they are not sure about an email or a possible scam. They may also be isolated and lonely and happy to have a conversation with someone--even someone who is trying to do them harm.

These characteristics may be true of some of the older adults you work with, but not for all. Do you know any older people who might have these characteristics? What do you already know that you can use to help older adults learn more about scams?