A. M. In a context in which interaction with technology is increasingly frequent, it is observed that, in addition to offering benefits for all age groups, it also presents significant risks. ESET, a leading company in proactive threat detection, states that older adults when using digital tools in their daily lives, also become targets of online threats, such as scams that target exclusively their age group, taking advantage of the fact that they are not as familiar with these digital environments to carry out scams.
“The trend, according to the FBI with data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), indicates that 88,000 people over 60 in the United States lost more than $3.1 billion in fraud over the Internet. It is important to promote cybersecurity among the older adult population, with appropriate strategies that allow them to navigate the digital world safely and reliably. Knowing about these frauds is the first step to prevent them and protect this increasingly digitalized population”, says Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya, head of the ESET Latin America Research Lab.
The 5 main cybercrimes that affect older adults and to which this group needs to pay special attention, according to ESET, are:
1. E-mail scams (phishing): Their objective is to induce the download of a file or click on a potentially malicious link. These emails seek to arouse joy or concern so that users reduce their attention and do not become suspicious, which makes them very effective for cybercriminals.
If you receive an email with a promise of winning a prize or an offer (joy), a threat that an account will be blocked, or a debt (worry), you should think twice before clicking on a link or downloading a file. While phishing can come from supposed banking entities, government, or commercial brands, whenever you receive news that alters your emotions and implies an action (whether it is visiting a site, downloading files, or providing information) you should pay attention and validate the source before acting.
The following is an email case of a so-called “tech support scam”:
From ESET clarify that phishing not only arrives by email, but can arrive by messaging systems such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and even text messages. Below is an example of an SMS scam.
ESET clarifies that phishing does not only come by email, but can also arrive via messaging systems such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and even text messages. Below is an example of an SMS scam.
Fraudulent phone calls: criminals posing as technicians or family members in distress. Following the premise that “when emotion comes in, reason goes out”, it is important to remain calm and, under no circumstances, provide personal information or information of people close to the caller.
Also, be wary of text messages, WhatsApp or other messaging media that seek, like phishing, to stimulate emotions and encourage their victim to provide confidential information or click on malicious links. Also, there is account hijacking through scams, in which cybercriminals pose as agents of account services, such as WhatsApp, and ask their victim for a verification code that ends up being the gateway for the cybercriminal to take control of their victim’s account.
Here is an example from WhatsApp where a user receives a message from an unknown recipient advertising a supposed benefit that, of course, does not exist, and attempts to get them to transfer money in exchange for the supposed benefit.
- Account hijacking: The convenience of using the same passwords makes it easy for cyber attackers to gain access to various online service accounts. It is important that these are not the same or trivial for all services, since, if an attacker manages to access one account, they will most likely try to access the rest of the accounts, and if the passwords are the same, they will automatically have access to all services. There are specialized software such as KeePass to store passwords so you don’t have to remember them.
- QRs in action: QR codes are used both to view menus in restaurants, share contacts or even to make payments, which is why it is important to pay attention to these codes, as they redirect to some site and not always legitimate. In the last time some scams have been detected using QR codes. For this reason, it is very important to be sure of what we are scanning before doing so. Of course, it is a matter of warning that these codes can redirect us to malicious sites
“Education and awareness are key points for the care of information, regardless of age. If you are an older adult, and some of the recommendations or the technology itself is beyond you technically, the ideal is to find someone who can accompany you, either an experienced family member or relative, or a trusted PC repair technician”, recommends Gutierrez Amaya from ESET Latin America.
ESET also shares some key points on how to help the elderly:
- Get actively involved: Accompany them in the configuration of their devices and teach them to identify risks with concrete examples.
- Create an environment of trust: Encourage them to ask questions before making online decisions, it is important to be patient and encourage dialogue as a conversation can avoid many headaches in the future.
- Review platforms together: Verify privacy settings on social networks and applications. If we do not have the necessary technical knowledge, it is a good opportunity to get advice from a specialist and pass on what we have learned to older adults.
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