PERSPECTIVES FROM THE CAMPUS

One of the strengths of Indiana is that we bring together a variety of perspectives from the plethora of areas that touch the field of cyber, especially through the colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education throughout our state. Hence the name, “Perspectives from the Campus”, we invite experts – immersed in the pursuit of educating their students – to offer their knowledge for finding solutions in cybersecurity that benefit all Hoosiers.

In the latest installment of this series, David Dungan, who serves as the executive director at the Center for Security Services and Cyber Defense at Anderson University, on the occasion of Older Americans Month, shares his perspective regarding some of the cybersecurity scams that are being used to target senior citizens and some of the steps to follow for keeping your (and your family’s) personal and financial information safe and secure.

By David Dungan

At times, technology can seem as through it’s downright notorious for advancing at breakneck speeds.

With the recent developments involving such things as artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency, as well as all of the new (and emerging) ways in which we’re able to communicate with one another, users are forced to keep up with an ever-growing list of new tools. It can feel as though it’s overwhelming or that you’re going to be left behind. Because of that, malicious actors on the internet assume that older users are more vulnerable, resulting in a massive number of scams targeting individuals above the age of 60.

Malicious actors can also use AI and cryptocurrency to send various types of scams to older Americans. As a result, a recent article in Elder Fraud, in Focus revealed just how much of an impact that’s occurred, such as:

• The average victim of elder fraud lost $33,915 in 2023.
• There were more 101,000 victims reporting elder fraud crime in 2023.
• The costliest cases involved investment scams, with losses totaling more than $1.2 billion to elder victims in 2023.
• In a significant amount of elder fraud cases, cryptocurrency was used to help facilitate the scam.

These numbers clearly demonstrate how much is being taken from older Americans, but they don’t discuss the methods that bad actors are using. An article published by the National Council On Aging (NCOA) discusses what scam methods are the most popular for elder fraud. Some of the most effective methods of scamming include:

• Phone calls from scammers impersonating government officials demanding personal identifying information and/or money.
• Scammers calling an older adult telling them that they have won a lottery or prize, and to claim their winnings they must send a payment.
• Computer tech support scams claiming that it’s necessary for them to make payments or provide their personal information in order to receive help.

Older Americans, as well as their family members and caregivers should be as diligent as possible when using the internet to protect themselves from potential scams. The NCOA discusses tactics to avoid phone scams which includes the following strategies:

• Caller IDs can be spoofed, so make sure you know who you are talking to.
• Do not give out sensitive information over the phone.
• Ask plenty of questions about who they are and why they are calling.
• Ask family and friends if you are confused about a certain process.

If something seems out of place or too good to be true, it likely is, and the best thing you can do is to simply hang up.

The internet is continuing to change rapidly, and threat actors are constantly coming up with all kinds of ways to get your money. Whenever you’re online, be sure to look out for the warning signs of potential scams and take measures to keep yourself safe.

Of course, if you need help, or you believe you’re a victim of identity theft or other type of online crime, the state of Indiana offers a lot of great FREE resources. You can visit the “Report a Cyber Incident” page on the Indiana Cyber Hub website, or the Indiana Attorney General’s office website where you can freeze your credit, sign up on the state’s “Do Not Call” list to avoid robocalls, and more.

All of us, regardless of how old (or young) we are, can feel as though we’re going to be left behind while the digital world around us moves ahead. Yet one of the great things about technology is that you can slow it all down – or stop it altogether – simply by trusting your instincts and taking the time to do some homework on who’s calling, texting, or emailing you. And what better way than that to celebrate getting older!