How Do You Protect Old People from Phone Scammers?

EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 16:48

Just after some tips as I'm running out of ideas. I look after a couple of oldies for their computers and from time to time they get phone scammers call them to 'fix their PC' etc and end up with bank account details.. I have told the victims not to talk to ANYONE who calls them about any computer 'problems' regardless of where they claim to be from. I have even gone as far as sticking a sign up in front of the victims PC to the same effect and told them to phone me if they have any concerns when scammers ring them. But they still keep getting scammed and handing over their banking details meaning they then have to go and change all their account numbers (if they are lucky not to lose any money) etc and feel pretty bad for the next couple of weeks. Until they forget about it and next scumbag calls them and they hand over their details AGAIN!

Have you guys got any tips I can use to stop this from happening as I'm running out of ideas. Blocking the scammers number is no good as they change all the time.

Cheers

Computing

Comments

  • MS Paint on 27/01/2021 - 16:53
    +8

    Put all their known contacts in to the phones contact list.

    If a private or unknown number appears let it go to message bank. If they leave a valid message - its important. If they don't leave a message then ignore it.

    • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:12

      Have done that, they still answer. In the latest case it was some one from 'New Zealand', but they don't even know anyone over there…..answered it anyway.

      • Topdog on 27/01/2021 - 17:43
        +1

        you can buy phones that auto decline private numbers or unkown numbers! Maybe research one of them, I know Telstra sell there own branded one.

        Also if its mobile, the latest version of andriod allows to autoblock unkown numbers and private numbers, sorry i dont know about iOS

        • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:45
          +1

          Cheers. They have two Apple phones but I'll look into it.

          • Quantumcat on 27/01/2021 - 17:50

            @EightImmortals: You could leave them their iPhones but take the sims out and put them in the other phone. So they can still use the iPhone for Facebook etc and things that they're used to

            • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:52

              @Quantumcat: They use their iPhones for taking/making calls when they are out. And often they are out separately and not together. :)

          • Twix on 27/01/2021 - 18:44
            +3

            @EightImmortals: Settings, Phone, Silence Unknown Callers, toggle on.

    • boomramada on 29/01/2021 - 09:11

      Government organisation/hospitals/medicare/ or similar call you with a private or unknown numbers.
      These days scammers use valid numbers or mobile numbers.

  • Randxyz123 on 27/01/2021 - 17:00
    +3

    I've told them not to talk to anyone from any company who cold calls them on the phone. Telstra, NBN, their bank, ATO, etc etc will NEVER ever call them up about something and ask for all your details.

    • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:12

      Have done that too. :)

      • Randxyz123 on 27/01/2021 - 23:03

        To add to this by law those companies have to post out offical documents, plan/account changes etc. +1 for the Telstra call guardian for home phone!

  • Costanza on 27/01/2021 - 17:11

    Telstra Call Guardian.

    • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:13

      Thanks will look into it. Does that work on mobile phones?

      • Costanza on 27/01/2021 - 17:15

        No but it should be easy to create a whitelist of #'s on a mobile and ignore all others.

        • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:32

          Yeah I'll have a further chat to them on that score. I've been nagging them about not talking to strangers who call them but maybe I should try getting them to just not answer unknown numbers period.

  • Ocker on 27/01/2021 - 17:29

    Well if they are not going to follow your instructions they are in for a fall

    • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 17:31

      Yeah I know, and they do (forget my advice when they are being frustrated and scared by a scammer) but due to their age it's a bit hard watching them get caught a couple of time a year. Most times I can sort it out for them but it still puts them in a highly stressed frame of mind, especially once they are into their eighties.

  • orangetrain on 27/01/2021 - 18:02
    +4

    Financial power of attorney. They're limited to necessary funds and to contact for bigger withdrawals.

    • mskeggs on 27/01/2021 - 18:26
      +1

      If they have reached an age where they can’t reliably look after their money, as this is showing, you need to step in.
      They can still have a debit card (with a transaction lock!) and cash for shopping, but somebody else needs to manage the money.

      My parents are that age, and I know plenty of people in that age group, and they aren’t getting scammed multiple times. Something is wrong.

      • Kail on 27/01/2021 - 20:15

        I agree, it is not normal for people to be scammed multiple times like this. It sounds like they need a bit of extra care in this area.

      • EightImmortals on 28/01/2021 - 07:17

        Yeah I might have a word to their kids. (Mind you their kids are in their 50's :) )

        • brad1-8tsi on 28/01/2021 - 10:54

          i'm in that age group. Around 60% of us are scammer savvy.

          The oldies need 2 accounts. One they know about with a little money and another they don't know.

  • mdsh on 27/01/2021 - 18:10

    What banking details are they giving out? Perhaps there's something on the banking side of things that you could set up to make it harder for scammers.

  • CyberMurning on 27/01/2021 - 18:19

    No one suggesting to change their numbers? Mobile and landline

    • EightImmortals on 27/01/2021 - 18:20

      Nah, they don;t have a landline anymore and when you're 85 changing a phone number/email address is like losing a leg. :)

  • netjock on 27/01/2021 - 19:08
    +2

    Open up a separate account for them and tell them to use that, have regular deposits of small amounts to go in there. Even if given to scammers it won't be the all their money.

  • Transient on 27/01/2021 - 19:10
    +1

    If iPhones then perhaps silence unknown callers? https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT207099

  • racer1234 on 27/01/2021 - 19:10
    +1

    You might want to look at this as a symptom rather than the problem. They may need extra care and help in other areas. Talk to their family or doctor and them about maybe getting assessed for extra help.

  • steven6 on 27/01/2021 - 19:40

    Install Linux

  • DannyC on 27/01/2021 - 20:22

    It might be an invasion of privacy but you could apply a "parental" control depending on the router you are using. My Netgear Nighthawk has Parental controls on this. I might also be concerned on what sites they are entering as they may be unintended visits to sites that are not secure.

    For the iPhone issues, do the residents have a phone book that they use for their contacts? Or is it saved to those iPhones? Blocking Private Numbers etc, but scammers have a large amount of numbers they can use so trying to block them all is a task in themselves. Esp when the residents do not listen to your warnings and you telling them directly… nothing much u can do about that. Perhaps get a dumb phone and every so often switch SIMs or get fresh mobile numbers if it gets really bad.

  • boomramada on 27/01/2021 - 21:03
    +5

    Old people don't trust online banking yet they like to hand over their credit card details over the phone. Just tell them don't 🤷

  • SF3 on 27/01/2021 - 21:24

    Take their phones away from them, if they don’t behave :)

    Despite how much you want to help, sometimes you just can’t help the gullible, no matter how much you teach/educate them.

  • antojamo on 28/01/2021 - 14:41
    +3

    Show them some of the videos on Youtube exposing scammers. If they can visualise it and see how things work, it may help them understand what is happening. Jim Browning does some great work.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1etkjUN6Ak

    However if they're claiming to "fix their PC" im guessing the old couple are providing the scammers remote access to their PC, so they can display the usual windows events, processes, netstat etc to convince them they have an issue. So how are they getting in? TeamViewer is a common tool, but there are many remote desktop tools out there. Could you install a decent firewall and specifically block all this?

  • Nickels n Dimes on 28/01/2021 - 21:37

    If they still had a landline, I would suggest the DoNotCall register, and getting a new unlisted number, then add their family and friends to the phones' address book, which helps with identifying calls — I note you mention they no longer have one, (that said landlines are largely useless for people with a mobile phone they are able to use).

    Mobile phones, both Android and iOS have many call screening apps. One good, free example is Hiya, which blocks all known spam calls, and has an option to screen (send to voicemail) any silent numbers. Any suspect numbers are flagged as 'SUSPICIOUS', so they will known to be on their guard when receiving such calls.

    Also, you can tell them to click on 'Report' for any scam callers that try to contact them, which adds to the apps database of spam/scam calls.

    https://apps.apple.com/au/app/hiya-spam-phone-call-blocker/i…
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascende…

  • CheapskateQueen on 28/01/2021 - 21:42

    good on you for trying to protect them.

    it's really up to their kids/ loved ones to step in and help. it's really hard teaching people, especially the elderly, about scammers.

    It took a few years but my mum finally understands and is really awesome now. never clicks on links in random text messages and tells me about any calls she gets.

    if they can't be trusted/ forget, the kids should look to set up two bank accounts. one where there's major savings kept and can put a lock on transfers, and then an account for day to day spending that will remain "at risk" but at least gives them independence.

    or/and set up 2 factor authentication with the kids mobile number for text authorisation.

  • beefmaster on 30/01/2021 - 14:46
    +1

    I am fortunate my mum don't answer phone number she do not recognise and even if she does she just tells them she does not speak English.

    I got a scam call once saying Telstra will disconnect my internet. I don't use Telstra so I know it's a scam and I simply wasted his time and shouted him and calling him a thief, Fk him for stealing which he ended up saying "Fk you too" and hang up. He was lucky he hang up early before I bitch about Cow God and Karma is going to hunt his family.

    I was in a foul mood and needed release, the scammer called at that right time. Yes, I can be nasty.

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