GRAND Magazine - July/August 2019 - 16

tech talk
And, there's also the one about the IRS saying you are going to jail. Or Microsoft saying
there's a problem with your computer. If it's any consolation, according to the FTC, 43% of
people in their 20s reported losing money to fraud and only 17% of those in their 70s
did. At the same time, if you believe them, NPR's Marketplace says that as we age, "there is
neuroscience and psychological data to suggest our ability to detect sketchy situations may
decline."
But there are ways to protect ourselves. Here are three to get started.

Google it.

Before responding to any email or phone call, search the Internet for verification.
Search "Porn ransom scam" and you get 815,000 results. Search "IRS call scam" gets
almost 10M responses. For email, absolutely do not respond to the email. Delete it
and change your passwords.
For a phone call, you may feel pressure to respond in the moment. However,
try this trick from media relations. Say "I'm in the middle of something right
now. Can I get your name and number and I'll call you back?" Of course if
someone won't give you their name and number that's a good sign it's not
legitimate. And if they do, 1. it gives you time to
search online to verify if that's even possible (e.g.
the IRS will never call you and demand money.
They'll write you a nice letter instead.) and 2. that
gives you information to report the scam.
The important message here is to get "Third
Party Verification." Ask if others have gotten similar calls. Add the word scam to your search, as in
"Grandchild needs money scam," and you can get
immediate verification.

Talk to Family and Have a Plan

For scams that claim to be family members, talk to your family ahead of
time and have a plan. It could be as simple as agreeing that you'll ask "How's
Fluffy" when your dog's name is really Spot. Or maybe it's a secret code
word that only the two of you know.
Scammers prey on the fact that many older adults have a smaller social
16 GRAND

JULY-AUG 2019

circle and can be more isolated. Talking to others is critical, whether it's family or your
Friday morning coffee klatch.

Just Say No

The idea that you could get rich quick is so enticing. But it's not true. It's never true. It
never has been true. And you actually know that. In reality, no stranger is
going to call you and ask you to share their fortune if you would just give
them the money to get started.
Always look at the source as well. You may get an email that has
the name of someone you know, but if you look at the actual email
address it is different. In particular, if someone you
haven't spoken to in three years sends you an email
saying "I just found this product and it's changed
my life. You should try it too." No-they did not
search out a casual contact from three years ago to
share this. Do not click it.
Check the email address. While the "from" name
may be your bank, your friend, your insurance company, the email address itself will be something
different. And if you get an email from someone
familiar, but there's no personal message, just a link
to click. Don't do it. And let your friend know their
email has likely been hacked.

Click here to continue reading

Deanna Shoss is a marketer, writer, interculturalist
in Chicago. As President and CEO of Intercultural
Talk, Inc. she provides digital, intercultural
and real life marketing for entrepreneurs and
people following their passions post age 50,
who need strategy and know-how to adapt to
new communication technologies. She speaks
Portuguese, Spanish and French and is a certified
Body Pump and group fitness instructor.

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GRAND Magazine - July/August 2019

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