Catfishing is not new and many people have become victims of this fraudulent act. Young and old alike have been deceived from by online predators. So, what does catfishing mean? Catfishing is a crime that occurs online when someone assumes a false identity with the intent to obtain money from the victim. These cybercriminals also catfishes people to earn their trust, gain sensitive information, and other personal information. The goal and common tactic is to develop a friendship, flirt or flatter the victim and then convince them to send cash or gift cards until they have drained the victims’ bank account.
Being too trusting in this deceiving world can become a bad thing. Imagine working hard to earn money and achieve financial stability, but end up penniless due to these fraudulent acts. Seniors are among the most trusting people in the world. They just have genuine and big hearts and other wonderful qualities. They are often genuine with big hearts and predators and other cybercriminals often see them as easy prey. Hence, as the caregiver for your elderly family member, you should educate them (and yourself) about catfishing and other online scams that might harm them.
As a caregiver, it is your responsibility to protect the vulnerable generation. Having knowledge of scams and methods cybercriminals utilize is as important as knowing your loved one’s medications. Take for example how Eleanor Gaccetta a sole caregiver for a loved one broke the age gap barriers and has communicated with her aged mother about independence and frauds to keep her safe — which you can read in her book One Caregiver’s Journey.
You can give them random but constant warnings about getting suspicious messages in their social media accounts and even in calls they receive by phone. The chat messages that are sent by strangers are from handsome men or beautiful women but few other details. Those messages should represent a red flag warning. Therefore being a caregiver doesn’t only mean that you have to assist them in their daily routine but also mean that you have to become their advisers with a constant eye on their online information..
Furthermore, listed below are the common red flags that you should take be aware of. If you have experienced these events, then you naturally put your guard up and become less trusting of people. Share these signs with your elderly loved one to recognize if someone is attempting to catfish them and share them often. Don’t forget to remind them to always keep communicating with you and seek your advice if they’ve experienced any of these red flags.
- They have little information on their site, few pictures.
- They decline your video chat invitation – phone doesn’t accept messages, can’t hear and can’t call.
- They cannot send random selfies
- They have few followers or friends
- They don’t post that much
- The have foreign addresses or are in the military.
They constantly reply to your text messages
- They won’t answer your calls
- They have amazing personal or career backgrounds
- They don’t meet with you
- They ask you for money
According to the FBI, there was an increase of over 18,000 grievances from the victims of internet fraud crimes in 2018 with an average of over $362 million lost resources, which is definitely more than 70% damages compared to the preceding year. The bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) obtained reports from victims of varying ages and incomes; however, the common targets are the seniors, females, and widows.
If you knew someone who is getting suspicious interactions with strangers from the internet, you should definitely warn them. Also, don’t forget to inform your elderly loved ones about these predators. You should definitely advise them to never send any amount to those that they’ve met online, especially through wire transfer. Persuade them to never give out their bank information, card numbers, social security numbers and other sensitive data that revolves around finances. If ever you have fallen into the traps, immediately check your accounts if there were malicious transactions that were done and notify your bank about it.
When these events occur, never hesitate to contact your local police departments or reach out to the Internet Crime Complaint Center of the nearest FBI office in your area. If you are having trouble going to the physical offices because of the pandemic, you can contact them online through https://www.ic3.gov/ and www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field.
The Damsel’s Files 