Online scammers have turned their attention to the elderly in recent years because senior citizens tend to be some of the most vulnerable to manipulation. As a younger relative, it’s up to you to protect your family members from becoming victims. It doesn’t matter even if you never got along well with that particular old uncle or grandparent. It’s still part of your duty to your family to do your best and make sure that your elderly relatives don’t end up being homeless or losing their life savings because they’re not savvy enough to recognise a scam. Here are the red flags that you should watch out for and warn them about:

Tech support scams

Posing as a tech support representative, a scammer may contact your relative and tell them that their computer has a virus or some other issue. They will then ask for remote access to the elder’s device and install software that can syphon off financial information or simply request for payment upfront for helping “fix” the problem. It may get annoying, but it’s a good idea to volunteer as your relative’s go-to tech person. At least, you can be sure they’re not signing away your inheritance.

Romance scams

Everyone gets lonely, but senior citizens experience a different kind of loneliness that comes from knowing that most of their peers are no longer around. Then a scammer with a fake profile can just swoop in and make them believe that they’ve found a partner they can share the rest of their years with. Once that special someone starts asking for money or gifts, then let your relative know it’s time to break up.

Phishing scams

If there’s one thing that you absolutely need to teach your older relatives, it’s to never click on any links they get through emails or direct messages. Legitimate organisations are unceasing in their warnings about phishing, so reinforce their efforts and train your elders out of the habit of just clicking on random things online.

Investment scams

Who doesn’t want to make more money quickly and easily? Unless your elder relatives are willing to become scammers themselves, teach them that these online get-rich-quick investment schemes are nothing but a way to fleece them of their savings. There is no legal business in existence that can give anyone a 50% return on their money within three months.

Lottery and sweepstakes scams

Someone calls your relative and tells them they’ve won some kind of lottery, but oops, they can’t claim the prize unless they pay taxes or fees on it. At this point, the senior citizen should just hang up the phone. Teach them that they should never give out financial details over the phone or online.

Caring for elderly family members can be challenging at the best of times, but it doesn’t have to get worse when they’ve fallen victim to a scam that has robbed them of their money. Look after them well not just because they’re your family but because it’s part of being a decent human being. And if you’ve got relatives who require home care in Brisbane, talk to us today and learn about the different options available to you.