Believe it or not, current technology hasn’t been around forever. Computers took up entire rooms. Telephones used to be connected to a wire going into the wall, and the phone had a rotary dial. There was no caller ID.
There was no such thing as a cell phone. We had to get up to change the channel on TV. There was no Alexa. Mail meant that you wrote an address on an envelope, put a stamp on the envelope, and dropped it into the mailbox. The recipient got your message a few days later. How did we survive?
Fast forward. Look at where we are now. Laptops and tablets go with us everywhere. Our phones make calls, connect us to our email and social media, and give us real-time directions. All we have to do is ask. (“Hey Siri!”) It’s the same with talking to our TV and to Alexa. Just tell the device what you want.
Those of us who are not natives to technology are especially vulnerable to scammers because we aren’t natives to technology. We trust the “technician” that tells us that we have a problem with that machine that we don’t understand anyway. We believe that the number that comes across our phone really is our family member. We don’t think anyone would lie about our grandchild needing help. Think again.
On the other hand, those who ARE natives to technology do everything on-line. They text, they shop, they bank, they Tweet, they call. Education has been online for almost a year. A lot of information is put “out there” and there is no limit on what is shared. These users don’t think anyone would misuse their information. Think again.
We are all vulnerable to ghosting (fake phone numbers), spamming (irrelevant messages), phishing (attempts to gain personal information), and getting scammed.
What’s the message? I’m glad you asked! There are two messages.
One message is that anyone can get scammed! Anyone can be convinced to give out personal information; anyone can click on a link that seems perfectly innocent; anyone can get into the emotion of the moment, or the effects of the pandemic’s isolation.
The other message is to ask you to be careful. Read emails carefully, and be attentive to email addresses. Watch for slight differences (.com instead of .org) If you answer the phone and it’s suspicious, hang up. You don’t need to say good bye.
Don’t fall for a stranger’s approach on social media. (Chances are good that they are NOT a widowed former military with a sick child who is stuck in a foreign country and is having trouble with their passport.) Don’t share too much information on social media.
Don’t send money to someone you meet on social media. (Check out the signs of a social media scammer on the AARP website and read tips on avoiding scammers on the Federal Trade Commission’s website.) If you help an older adult, check on them and make sure they know about scammers. Be especially vigilant if they have memory problems.
Scammers have gotten smarter and scamming has become a big business. Don’t get hooked by people who are trying to get your information. If you get scammed, report it.
Remember: It can happen to anyone.
