Online Safety Tips for Older Adults
Older adults are using the internet more than ever, for banking, shopping, video calls with family, and staying in touch with friends. But as online activity grows, so do the risks. According to the FTC's 2024-2025 report on protecting older consumers, fraud losses reported by adults 60 and older reached $2.4 billion in 2024, up from $600 million just four years earlier. The good news is that the most common scams are also the most preventable, if you know what to look for.
Common Scams Targeting Seniors
Online scams have gotten more sophisticated, but they tend to follow a few familiar patterns. Phishing emails and text messages are among the most common. These are messages designed to look like they are coming from a bank, a government agency, or a company you trust, and they usually ask you to click a link or share personal information. If a message feels urgent or threatening, that is often the first sign that something is off.
Phone scams work the same way. A caller may claim to be from the IRS, Medicare, or a tech support team and pressure you into sharing account details or making a payment. Government agencies will never call and demand immediate payment or threaten arrest.
Social media scams are also on the rise, particularly investment scams and impersonation fraud. Fake profiles, too-good-to-be-true offers, and messages from people you do not recognize are all worth a second look before you engage.
How to Protect Your Information Online
Start with your passwords. Strong, unique passwords make your accounts significantly harder to compromise, and a password manager can help you keep track of them without writing them down or reusing the same one across multiple sites. Two-factor authentication, which sends a code to your phone or email when you log in, adds another layer of protection and is worth turning on for any account that offers it.
Be thoughtful about what you share on social media. Details like your birthday, hometown, pet's name, or daily routine can give scammers the answers to common security questions. When shopping or entering personal information online, look for "https" in the web address and a padlock icon in the browser bar. These indicate that the site is using a secure connection.
What to Do if You Suspect a Scam
Trust your instincts. If an email, text, or phone call feels off, do not click any links or share any information. Instead, go directly to the company's website or call them using a number you find on your own. Scammers rely on urgency, so giving yourself a moment to pause and verify can make all the difference.
If you think you have encountered a scam or shared information you should not have, tell someone. A trusted family member, a neighbor, or a friend can help you figure out the next steps. You can also report fraud directly to the FTC or contact your state attorney general's office. The FTC's Pass It On campaign is another helpful resource, with free materials on more than a dozen fraud topics designed specifically for older adults.
Senior Living in Winchester, VA
SVWC is a nonprofit Life Plan Community in Winchester, VA, founded in 1987 and set on 175 wooded acres in the Shenandoah Valley. As a Lifecare community, every resident has access to a full continuum of care on campus, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and therapy services. Costs stay predictable, and if your needs ever change, your address does not.
To learn more about independent living at SVWC, schedule a visit.