The internet is the digital wild west: a lawless landscape where only the savvy survives. And let's be honest: we all have at least one trusting relative who wouldn't make it across the proverbial prairie with their covered wagon (or inbox) intact.
The good news? Whether it's your sweet and unsuspecting Aunt Lori or your semi-tech-savvy mom or dad, you can offer some quick and simple guidance to help your loved ones protect their personal information and steer clear of online scams.
Here are our tips to help you lead your loved ones away from those pesky online scams.
Start with Empathy
Start by reminding yourself that previous generations didn't grow up in a world with pop-up-blockers and dual factor authentication. Softness and understanding are key in coaching your loved ones to gain a wary eye when it comes to their inbox.
Discuss Red Flags
The best way to identify scams is by knowing what to look for. Explain some of the key giveaways that suspicious emails will have. Dive into your own spam folder and examine a scam email with them, pointing out characteristics that give it away.
Scam emails typically have:
- A sense of urgency: "Act now or lose everything!" is a classic fraud tactic.
- Poor grammar: If the email reads like a cat stepped on the keyboard while someone was typing, chances are a robot wrote it.
- Unfamiliar senders and multiple recipients: If they don't know the person, or if they see they're among hundreds of recipients, they shouldn't trust the message.
- Suspicious links: Hovering over a link (without clicking!) can reveal where it really leads.
Here's an idea: make a fun little game out of teaching your relatives to spot scams. Show them examples of various emails and have them guess which are scams and which are legitimate.
Help Put Up Digital Barriers
There are some basic protections your relatives might not be leveraging. Be sure they've got the following security measures in place to strengthen their defenses:
- Antivirus software: Even free versions can catch a lot of harmful stuff.
- Spam filters: Most email platforms have built-in filters—make sure they're turned on.
- Password managers: If your uncle's password is still "password123," it's time for an upgrade.
Pause and Ask
Encourage your relatives to come to you with anything suspicious. Frame it as a cooperative effort, using your familiarity and knowledge of scams without judgement. It's much easier for everyone if you take a quick look at something suspicious rather than help your relative go through the headache of dealing with identity theft.
Be Encouraging
If your relative forwarded you an email instead of clicking the link, congrats! Your little chat worked, and their progress deserves kudos. Something like, "Nice scam-sleuthing, mom. That 'urgent bank alert' email was totally bogus," is a little affirmation that goes a long way.
Remember, the goal isn't to turn your Uncle Greg into a cybersecurity expert. You're simply empowering them to trust their instincts, stay skeptical, and ask for help when something feels off. With a little patience and support, you're not just protecting their personal information, you're giving them peace of mind and the confidence to navigate the wild, shady-link-saturated wilderness of their inbox.
For more help keeping your relatives one step ahead of scammers, check out your Golden 1 resources, including our Be Cyber Smart Guide. It's packed with practical tips, red flags to watch for, and what to do if they suspect fraud.
Remind your relatives if they suspect they've received a fraudulent message claiming to be from Golden 1, call Golden 1 directly at 1-877-GOLDEN 1 or forward suspicious emails to reportphishing@golden1.com.
