Ann Arbor Senior Care Company Provides Cyber Safety Tips for Seniors

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Oct. 4, 2014 - PRLog -- October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, making it an excellent time to talk with your aging loved one about staying safe while online.

According to the FBI’s Scams & Safety (http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/seniors) Web page, seniors are highly targeted by scammers of all kinds because they are widely expected to have a nest egg saved up, own their own house and have excellent credit. Because children in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s were taught to be polite and trusting, scammers also expect older generations to be easier targets. Many scammers think seniors are even easier targets online because they did not grow up with today’s technology like younger generations did, and therefore scammers don’t think they will be as savvy about Internet safety and risks.

Seniors are also less likely to report scams. They either do not know who to report a scam to, or they are simply embarrassed. Whatever the reason, this tendency also puts seniors at higher risk.

The best way to protect your loved one from scammers is to educate him or her about what to look for. Here are three of the most common phishing scams targeting seniors, as listed by AARP:

Scans using the name of well-known companies, like Microsoft

These emails claim to represent a well-known company and may even look very much like the company by using company identifiers such as logos. These emails will make some sort of claim as a precursor to asking for personal information, such as your logon password.

Scams that say you have won a lottery

These emails will tell you that you have won a lottery, even though you did not enter one. They may try to align with a well-known company to try to look credible. Again, these emails will make a claim to try to get personal information from you—such as that they need your bank account number to deposit your winnings.

Scams that pretend to be security software

Also known as “scareware,” rogue security software claims to be effective security software, but does not actually protect the computer. Often, the software actually causes false security alerts—or worse, will lead you to make fraudulent transactions to gain personal information or take your money.

Seniors, like all Internet users, will also benefit from general computer security practices such as using antivirus software, setting up a firewall, and never opening emails from unknown addresses or following links to unknown sites. The Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month website (http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1158611596104.shtm) offers even more information about computer safety basics.

“Make sure your loved one knows that if they are scammed, they can come to you for help without fear of being judged,” said Charles Williams, President and General Manager of Right at Home of Ann Arbor, a senior care company in Ann Arbor Michigan. “Many seniors do not report fraud because they worry that their friends and family may think they are no longer able to look after themselves.” To report a scam, contact the FBI or submit a report online through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The Internet has predators, but it doesn’t mean seniors shouldn’t use it. “There is risk in everything we do. If we travel by airplane, we know that there is a small chance that the plane can experience engine trouble or worse,” as explained by Norton in its “Cyber Safe Seniors” guidebook. “If you follow some general rules and guidelines … you will find the Internet a non-scary, fun, and enchanting place to visit.”

About Right at Home
Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers senior care and companionship to the elderly and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 42 states nationwide and throughout the world.

About Right at Home of Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Michigan office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., providing senior care to the communities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Belleville, Plymouth, Chelsea, Dearborn, Canton, Dexter, and beyond. For more information, contact Right at Home of Ann Arbor at http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw or by phone at (734) 971-5000.