Tech Talk with Jeff - Pass It On
Recently I came across an FTC webinar titled “Reaching Older Adults About Scams: Pass It On.”
I attended it since you can never know too much about these topics. Some good information was presented, but I found the premise behind it more interesting. The idea is to tell stories of scams we have run into and how to protect ourselves.
Even though the title suggests it is for older people, the topics and materials apply to all of us, regardless of age. Scammers tend to go after older people because they can be easier targets, but that does not prevent them from going after anyone at any age. Young adults can also be targets due to their lack of experience in recognizing threats.
So, what is my point here? Use your knowledge to help others. Tell the stories of scams you have seen or experienced. It might help prevent someone from being scammed. There should be no embarrassment in sharing what we have experienced. We are all subject to these attacks. It can happen to anyone, and it does; this includes people who study scams. Even they get scammed, and I have seen stories about that. The scammers will certainly never hold back on us, so we should never be afraid to share and help others protect themselves.
The FTC has a section of its website dedicated to this topic. It can be found here: Pass It On | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov). It’s worth a look. It is a good entry point to a ton of information on what to look out for and how to report scams. They have sections on all types of scams and how to recognize them. They also provide materials that you can print and give to others.
Our best protection against these threats is knowledge. Understanding and recognizing the threats goes a long way toward protecting ourselves and others. Take a look and Pass It On!
Be aware and be safe!
