Introduction to Part 2

I wrote Part 1 myself, but I didn't have adequate knowledge to write this necessary and practical follow-up specifying what exactly we want our beloved seniors to do to protect themselves from scams. So I had Claude write an essay on the topic, then fed that essay into Notebook LM to create the video and image used in this article.

Everything that follows after this note was created by artificial intelligence. If I didn't tell you, would you know? Chances are, if you're under 50 and tech-savvy, the answer is yes. But if you're over 50 and work in a different sector? Probably not.

So before I sign off and let robots do the work, here's a final word for my own mom. Please don't let pride get in the way of your safety. When in doubt, ask me and my husband to help you sort out what's real. When I was growing up, you told me over and over again how smart I am. Don't let all that brainpower you gave me so much credit for then not be of any benefit to you now.

Alright, signing off, and handing it over to the bots. Stay safe everyone. It's a wild (virtual) world out there.

- Stephanie

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Image and video above made by Notebook LM, based on the essay below written by Claude AI

Staying Safe in a Digital World: A Practical Guide for Seniors Living Independently

The phone rings. A voice on the other end sounds exactly like your grandson, panicking about an emergency and begging you not to tell his parents. Your heart races. You want to help. But something feels wrong.

You're right to pause. That voice may not be your grandson at all.

Today's scammers have tools that would have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago. They can clone voices from a short video clip, create convincing fake emails that appear to come from your bank, and pose as government officials with alarming authority. Living alone means you may not have someone nearby to consult when something feels off. This guide will help you recognize the warning signs and protect yourself.

The New Reality of Scams

Criminals no longer need to be skilled con artists working a room. They can operate from anywhere in the world, targeting thousands of people simultaneously with sophisticated technology. What makes today's scams different is how convincing they've become.

Voice cloning allows criminals to replicate anyone's voice using just a few seconds of audio scraped from social media or voicemail. That frantic call from your grandchild might be a computer-generated fake.

Artificial intelligence can write personalized emails that reference real details about your life, making them far more believable than the poorly written scam emails of the past.

Caller ID spoofing makes any phone number appear on your screen, so a call that looks like it's from your bank or the Social Security Administration may be coming from overseas criminals.

The Golden Rules

Before diving into specific scams, commit these principles to memory. They will serve you well in almost any suspicious situation.

Legitimate organizations never demand immediate action. Your bank, the IRS, Medicare, and law enforcement will always give you time to verify information through official channels. Anyone creating urgency is likely trying to prevent you from thinking clearly.

Never trust contact information provided by the person contacting you. If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on your bank card or statement. If someone says they're a grandchild in trouble, call that grandchild's known phone number or their parents.

You cannot win a prize for a contest you didn't enter. Full stop. No exceptions.

No legitimate entity asks for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These payment methods are untraceable and irreversible, which is precisely why scammers love them.

When in doubt, wait. Tell the caller you need time to think. A legitimate caller will understand. A scammer will pressure you. That pressure is your signal to hang up.

Common Scams and How to Recognize Them

The Grandparent Scam

A caller claims to be your grandchild or a lawyer or police officer calling on their behalf. There's been an accident, an arrest, a medical emergency. They need money immediately. They beg you not to tell other family members because they're embarrassed or afraid.

Your defense: Establish a family code word that only your real family members would know. When you receive such a call, ask for the code word. If the caller can't provide it, hang up. Better yet, hang up and call your grandchild directly using the number you have saved in your phone.

Impersonation of Government Agencies

Callers claim to be from Social Security, Medicare, or the IRS. They say your Social Security number has been compromised, your Medicare benefits are being canceled, or you owe back taxes. They demand immediate payment or personal information to "fix" the problem.

Your defense: Know that these agencies conduct official business by mail, not by threatening phone calls. Social Security will never call threatening to suspend your benefits. The IRS will never demand immediate payment over the phone. Hang up and call the agency directly using the number from their official website or your benefit statements.

Tech Support Fraud

Your computer displays a frightening pop-up warning that your device is infected with a virus. A phone number is displayed, urging you to call immediately. Or someone calls claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple, saying they've detected a problem with your computer and need remote access to fix it.

Your defense: These pop-ups are themselves the scam. Close your browser entirely. If necessary, turn off your computer and turn it back on. Microsoft, Apple, and other technology companies do not monitor your personal computer and will never call you unsolicited about problems. Never give anyone you don't know remote access to your computer.

Romance Scams

You connect with someone on social media or a dating site. They seem perfect. They're attentive, romantic, and deeply interested in your life. After weeks or months of building trust, they have a crisis. They need money for a medical emergency, to travel to meet you, or to resolve a business problem. The requests continue and escalate.

Your defense: Be extremely cautious about anyone you've never met in person who develops romantic feelings quickly or who eventually asks for money. Ask to video chat; scammers will make excuses to avoid showing their real face. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person, no matter how strong your feelings.

Fake Delivery and Package Scams

You receive a text or email saying a package couldn't be delivered and asking you to click a link to reschedule. Or you receive notification of a package you don't remember ordering, with a link to track it.

Your defense: Don't click links in unexpected messages about packages. If you're expecting a delivery, go directly to the shipping company's website by typing the address into your browser. If you didn't order anything, the message is almost certainly a scam designed to steal your information.

Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams

Someone contacts you about an incredible investment opportunity with guaranteed high returns. They may claim to have inside information or a foolproof system. Often these involve cryptocurrency, which many seniors are unfamiliar with.

Your defense: There is no such thing as a guaranteed high-return investment. Anyone promising otherwise is either lying or deluded. Never invest in anything you don't fully understand, and always consult a licensed financial advisor you've chosen yourself.

Protecting Your Information

Your personal information is valuable to criminals. Guard it carefully.

Limit what you share on social media. Scammers mine Facebook and other platforms for details they can use to make their cons more convincing. Your birthday, your grandchildren's names, your daily routines, and your travel plans are all useful to criminals.

Shred documents containing personal or financial information before discarding them.

Check your credit report at least once a year through AnnualCreditReport.com, the only federally authorized source for free credit reports. Unfamiliar accounts could indicate identity theft.

Use strong, unique passwords for important accounts, especially email and banking. Consider using a password manager or writing passwords in a notebook kept in a secure location at home. Never share passwords with anyone who contacts you.

Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts when possible. This sends a code to your phone that you must enter in addition to your password, making it much harder for criminals to access your accounts even if they steal your password.

What to Do If You Suspect a Scam

Stop all communication immediately. Don't worry about being rude. Hang up the phone. Stop responding to emails or texts. Block the number or email address.

Talk to someone you trust. Call a family member, friend, or neighbor and describe what happened. A second perspective can help you see things clearly.

Don't be embarrassed. Scammers are professionals who spend all day perfecting their craft. Smart, educated people fall victim every day. If you've been targeted, you're not foolish; you're human.

Report it. Even if you didn't lose money, reporting scams helps protect others. Contact your local police, your state attorney general's office, or the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you've lost money, contact your bank immediately. Some transactions can be reversed if reported quickly. Also file a report with the FTC and local police.

Building Your Support Network

Living alone doesn't mean facing these challenges alone.

Identify a trusted person you can call when something seems suspicious. This might be an adult child, a neighbor, or a friend. Let them know you may call them to verify whether something is legitimate.

Consider call-blocking services offered by your phone company or through apps designed to screen suspicious calls.

Stay informed. Scam tactics evolve constantly. AARP maintains updated information about current scams at aarp.org/fraud.

The world has changed, but your instincts remain valuable. That uncomfortable feeling when something seems too good to be true or when someone is pushing you to act immediately? Trust it. The few seconds it takes to pause, verify, and consult someone you trust could save you thousands of dollars and immeasurable heartache.

You've navigated decades of life's challenges. With awareness and a few simple habits, you can navigate this one too.