Huntsville is nicknamed “the Rocket City” and has a long history of being high-tech, and now more and more Huntsville seniors are getting high-tech, too, turning to the Internet for all kinds of needs:
- Shopping online on sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Drugstore.com, Target, Walmart, or Overstock.com that deliver goods straight to their doorstep, or to friends and family around the country
- Writing or video chatting with loved ones using services like Skype, Face-Time, and Google Video, email, or social media sites like Facebook
- Keeping up with the news, stock market, pop culture, magazines, and other publications
- Communicating with state, local, and federal representatives, newspaper editors, or message boards on topics of interest like cooking, travel, or hobbies like crafts, birding, sports, and more
- Researching healthcare information, medical questions, information about prescriptions, etc.
- Watching TV shows and movies using services like Netflix, Hulu, or TV network websites
With so many wonderful reasons to get online, it’s understandable why more and more seniors are embracing the digital age. However, as in the real-world, the digital world requires caution and know-how to protect your personal information, identity, and avoid scams.
You already know how to avoid phone scams and not to give out information like your credit card or social security number to strangers on the phone, and to protect your ATM pin number when you make a withdrawal. It’s wise to be similarly cautious online.
Avoid Common Scams
Scammers have a number of schemes. These may include advertising “work from home” opportunities in online job sites, online classifieds on newspaper websites or sites like Craigslist, or social networking sites. They might claim that you’ve been chosen for lottery winnings, a clearinghouse sweepstakes, or other windfall. They might ask you to wire money to help with a family emergency, or pose as anonymous grandchildren in need of money to repair a car or make rent.
Other famous scams involve a Nigerian prince, ask for a “good faith” money transfer, or threaten arrest by FBI or other law enforcement because of an overdue loan you didn’t know you had taken out.
Be cautious of potential scammers in online dating sites and chat rooms, auto auctions, or pop-up browser windows simulating virus-scanning software that ask you todownload a fake anti-virus program (at a substantial cost) or files that will release an actual virus on your machine.
Be Smart About Email
When you create a password for your email account, make it complex and hard to crack. Use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. The best passwords don’t include personal information, so avoid the names of loved ones, pets, your name, or the word “password” or the abbreviation “PW.”
Don’t respond to emails from strangers or unfamiliar email addresses. Be especially cautious of emails that come with files attached. Many scammers are growing increasingly sophisticated, and emails may have graphics, addresses, and other details that make them look legitimate, as if they are from major banks or federal agencies. Which leads us to our next point:
When In Doubt…
A little common sense goes a long way, as does relying on your in-person community. Ask trusted, tech-savvy friends or relatives for advice if something seems off, or if you aren’t positive they were really behind an email, Facebook message, or other online communication. Avoid public wireless signals (known as WiFi) that isn’t password protected if you’re connecting at a coffee shop, museum, or other business while you’re out and about. You can also call a verified, legitimate computer store such as the Huntsville Apple Store at Bridge Street Town Center (256-327-8800), or Best Buy at University Plaza (256-726-9844), both of which are a short drive from Regency Retirement Village of Huntsville.