I never thought it would happen to me. After handling my own finances for over 6 decades, I considered myself reasonably tech-savvy for my age. I was emailing my grandchildren, using online banking, and even ordering groceries through an app. But that phone call changed everything.
The caller identified himself as a representative from my bank’s fraud department, saying there had been suspicious activity on my account. He knew my name, the last 4 digits of my account number, and spoke with such authority and concern. When he asked me to verify my identity by sharing my password, I barely hesitated before telling him. After all, he was helping me to protect my money, or so he made me believe.
It took only a few hours for my accounts to be drained. The shame I felt was almost worse than the financial loss. How could I have been so stupid? As I worked with my actual bank to recover any funds they could, I learned this was a common scam targeting seniors.
This experience taught me that cybersecurity isn’t just for the young or tech-savvy—it’s perhaps even more crucial for seniors like me. Scammers prey on our generation because they assume we’re less familiar with technology and sometimes more trusting. In my case they were certainly correct.
If I could go back in time, I would remind myself that legitimate institutions never ask for passwords over the phone. How I fell for the scam still frustrates me. I should have hung up and called my bank directly using the number on my card.
Today, I’m rebuilding my financial security, but I’m also sharing my story with other seniors. We’ve navigated so many challenges in our lives; cybercrime is just another one we must learn to protect ourselves against.
Remember: question unexpected contacts, verify identities through official channels, and never share your passwords—no matter how convincing the request might seem. We have a lot of experience but in this case a healthy dose of scepticism is a good weapon.
I’m now going to Co.As.It.’s cybercrime course. I invite you to come so you are better equipped than I was at identifying a scam.
