What concerns me most with aging parents
With my dad just days away from turning 80 and my mum not far behind I find myself worrying about them more and more, but it’s not all about their health - it’s about the possibility of them being scammed.
Over the last few years it seems that scammers have gotten more sophisticated - perhaps with the increase in the use of AI. Some of the email based scams look so legit even I need to look closely and do some digging to see if it is a scam or legit - mostly they’re a scam.
I even find myself being safe on the phone. If ever I do get a call from a number that isn’t in my contacts I never give out personal information. I recently had a call from my health insurance company that I wasn’t expecting, and while I was 95% sure it was them I simply said I wasn’t comfortable giving that information to an unexpected caller, hung up (nicely) and called them back.
The other thing I make sure I don’t do with these unknown callers is use the word yes. In the past scammers have called unsuspecting people and asked a questions that they would answer yes to, like “Hello is this Michael”, just to record you saying yes and then use it where any voice verification is needed - e.g mobile number porting. In these situations I answer differently - “is this Michael”, my reply, “speaking, who is calling”.
Over the years I have had several conversations with my parents about what to look for with both phone and email scams and how best they can protect themselves, but as they get older I can see they are understanding less about technology and need more time to process answers to questions or thoughts, and this is exactly the kind of behavior scammers pray on.
So while this is a big worry for me I guess all I can do is keep talking to them about the risks and ensure they know that if they’re not sure about something - call me.
The Scammerland Podcast
I recently came across this podcast which is all about scam farms in Myanmar and how they lure in people form third-world countries with the promise of a job - basically it’s kidnapping and human trafficking.
This is well worth a listen. They talk to a couple of people who fell victim to the scammers and found themselves forced into slavery in a scam farm - their stories are interesting. They also chat to an Australian guy who lives across the river in Thailand from these scam farms and has helped hundreds of people escape to safety.
Here are my five tips for avoiding scams:
1. Be sceptical of unsolicited contact
If you receive unexpected phone calls, texts, emails or messages on social media asking for personal or financial information, be wary. Scammers often pretend to be from trusted organisations like the ATO, your bank, or even Australia Post.
2. Don’t click on suspicious links
Hover over links in emails or texts to check where they lead before clicking. If something feels off - even slightly - go directly to the official website instead of following a link.
3. Never share personal or banking details
No legitimate company will ask for passwords, PINs or verification codes via email or over the phone. If in doubt, hang up or ignore the message and contact the organisation directly using details from their official website.
4. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication
This helps protect your online accounts from being hacked if your information is compromised elsewhere. A password manager can help keep track of them securely.
5. Stay informed about current scams
Follow trusted resources like Scamwatch to keep up with the latest scams affecting Australians. Awareness is one of the best defences.