Advice for elderly Caithness residents on criminal online scams
Elderly Caithness residents can be vulnerable to scammers so a new guide helps them be aware of criminal activity online.
To mark International Day of Older Persons today (October 1) Scottish charity the Cyber and Fraud Hub has relaunched its guide to encourage older residents to be vigilant when it comes to online scams.
Originally produced by the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, ‘A Guide to Avoiding Fraud and Scams for Older People’ addresses some of the most common forms of cyber and fraud crime, and will be distributed through local community networks as well as being available online.
The guide aims to empower older adults to navigate the digital landscape safely and securely and provides insights into common online scams, identifies red flags to watch out for, and outlines steps to take in case of suspected fraud.
Victims of cryptocurrency scams usually engage with individuals who are unknown to them through unsolicited approaches on WhatsApp, Facebook or dating apps, for example, or click on links by AI-generated celebrities supposedly promoting crypto scams.
Older people are also vulnerable to telephone scams, banking scams, WhatsApp family and friends impersonation scams, parcel delivery scams and investment and pension scams.
International Day of Older Persons raises awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations and mobilises the wider community to address difficulties faced by older people. Cyber and Fraud Hub urges older people to:
• Be cautious of unexpected calls, emails, or letters.
• Never give out personal information over the phone or email.
• Be suspicious of any offers that sound too good to be true.
• Shred personal documents before throwing them away.
• Talk to someone you trust about your finances.
To access the guide, visit the Resources section on the Cyber and Fraud Hub at cyberfraudhub.org
Anyone who finds themselves a victim of a cyber or fraud crime can call the incident response helpline on 0808 281 3580.
