Tag: online security

Sage Advice®

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03.20.25 | Uncategorized

Protecting Your Finances: How Older Adults Can Avoid Financial Scams

In an era of digital transactions, phone-based fraud, and increasingly sophisticated scams, financial security is more critical than ever—especially for older adults, who are often targeted by fraudsters. Scammers take advantage of trust, technology gaps, and even personal vulnerabilities to deceive individuals into giving away their money or sensitive information.

At Sage Collective®, we believe that financial security is a cornerstone of vibrant living, allowing older adults to thrive without the stress of fraud or financial loss. In our latest season of Sage Vibrant Living — The Podcast, we discuss the importance of financial literacy and protecting oneself from scams that disproportionately impact older adults. Here, we break down key strategies to safeguard your finances and recognize potential fraud before it happens.

Common Scams Targeting Older Adults
Scammers have become more creative in their methods, using both old and new tactics to deceive unsuspecting individuals. Some of the most common scams include:

Impersonation Scams. Scammers may pose as trusted institutions—such as banks, Social Security offices, or even family members—to manipulate victims into providing personal information. These scams often happen over the phone, email, or even text messages.

🔹 How to Spot It:

  • Unsolicited calls or emails asking for personal details like Social Security numbers, bank account information, or passwords.
  • Urgent language such as “act now or lose your benefits.”
  • Caller ID that appears legitimate but isn’t (always verify before responding).

🔹 How to Protect Yourself:

  • Never give out personal or banking information over the phone unless you initiated the call.
  • Hang up and call the institution directly to verify the request.
  • If a family member calls asking for money, verify with another relative before taking action.

Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams. Many scams claim that the recipient has won money or a prize—but must first pay a fee or provide sensitive financial details to claim their winnings.

🔹 How to Spot It:

  • Requests for upfront payments or “taxes” before you can receive a prize.
  • Notifications from contests you never entered.
  • Claims that your “winnings” must be kept secret.

🔹 How to Protect Yourself:

  • If you didn’t enter a contest, you didn’t win one.
  • Never send money, gift cards, or wire transfers to claim a prize.
  • Consult a trusted friend or family member before responding.

Tech Support & Remote Access Scams. Scammers claim there’s a virus or problem with your computer, phone, or bank account. They may ask you to download software or give them remote access to fix the issue.

🔹 How to Spot It:

  • Unsolicited calls from “tech support” warning about a computer virus.
  • Pop-ups that lock your screen and demand immediate action.
  • Requests to download unknown software or allow remote access.

🔹 How to Protect Yourself:

  • Never give remote access to your devices unless you initiated a call to a verified tech service.
  • Ignore pop-ups urging immediate action and restart your computer instead.
  • Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for extra security.

Smart Financial Habits to Stay Safe

🔹 Monitor Your Accounts:
 Regularly check bank statements, credit card transactions, and credit reports to spot unauthorized activity early.

🔹 Use Strong & Unique Passwords:
 Create complex passwords for banking and shopping sites. Avoid using birthdays or easy-to-guess phrases.

🔹 Stay Updated on Scams:
 Scammers evolve their tactics. Stay informed by following updates from AARP Fraud Watch Network, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or local consumer protection agencies.

🔹 Talk Openly About Fraud:
 Discuss scam prevention strategies with friends, family, and community members—especially those who may be more vulnerable to fraud.

🔹 Report Scams Immediately:
 If you suspect fraud, report it to:
📌 FTC (Federal Trade Commission) → reportfraud.ftc.gov
📌 AARP Fraud Watch Helpline → 877-908-3360
📌 Local law enforcement or bank if financial information was compromised.

Empowering Older Adults Through Awareness
At Sage Collective®, we believe that financial independence and security are essential for living vibrantly. By staying informed and implementing protective measures, older African Americans can safeguard their assets and avoid falling victim to scams.

Financial fraud is not just about money—it’s about peace of mind, dignity, and confidence in managing your financial future. Let’s work together to spread awareness and protect one another from scams.

Tune in to our latest podcast episode on financial security for more insights! 🎧

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Sage Advice®

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12.07.21 | Community

Sage How-to: Carefully Shopping Online

With the giving season quickly approaching, stores are becoming overwhelmingly packed with gifts and crowds looking to purchase them; what many forget is that online shopping offers the perfect alternative to finding everything you’re searching for this holiday season. Although, as accessible and exciting as the experience is, it can come with unexpected events that may lead to negative experiences, especially during this time of year. Today, we’re highlighting the necessary steps everyone should take while shopping online to make your experience effortless and enjoyable this winter and throughout the year.

Use Familiar Websites

One of the most significant steps you can take to make sure your online shopping experience finishes without any troubles is by sticking to the websites of companies you know are trusted. It’s tempting to explore new stores, especially with the convenience of online shopping, but venturing into new sites isn’t always the best idea. To make it easier on yourself during the holiday season, make sure to bookmark all of your favorite online retailers throughout the year. If you want to shop somewhere you haven’t before, make sure to search the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints made against them, check out their online reviews, or simply call the business to verify their credibility. 

Only Shop In Secure Locations

You should avoid shopping in public spaces or businesses as much as possible if you can. Whether you are in an airport or your local cafe, public Wi-Fi connections offer the possibility for trouble. Because it can be easy for scammers to collect data through Wi-Fi connections, it’s always safest to either stay off Wi-Fi when in public or make your purchase from a secure location.

Go Mobile 

Shopping from a mobile device is easier than ever and offers some of the safest ways to protect your data while making your big purchases. Not only is shopping from your phone usually more accessible than shopping from a computer, but more and more companies are also developing apps for their customers to buy from, which frequently provide heightened security compared to their websites. While going mobile, you can also take advantage of its other affordances, including secure mobile payment options commonly protected by passwords and facial recognition. 

Check Your Statements

After making your online purchases, make sure to periodically check your bank or credit card statements for anything that looks out of the ordinary. Some accounts will even let you set up notifications alerting you of any new activity made on your card. In most cases, if possible, it’s best to use a credit card for your holiday purchases. Paying with a debit card grants easy access to your bank account for scammers, and while a compromised credit card is still not ideal, most companies offer $0 liability in cases of fraud. 

Whether you’re buying for a friend, family member, or even yourself, don’t hesitate to take control over your digital environment with these simple steps that can make your online shopping experience safer than ever, especially this holiday season.

A person with a laptop on their lap is holding a credit card ready to type the numbers in to buy something online.
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Sage Advice®

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11.23.21 | Community

Sage How-to: Safety and Security on the Web

At Sage Collective, one of our primary goals is to encourage older adults to participate in programming that empowers their purpose and lifestyle, often using leading-edge technology on laptops, tablets and smartphones. Today, we’re exploring the easy steps you can take to make your online experiences safe by protecting your privacy and personal information.

Create and Manage Your Passwords With Care

Passwords are a tricky element in online security. While they are meant to safeguard your sensitive information, they can be dangerous if you don’t put enough thought and responsibility into creating and managing them. When building passwords, try to use at least 12 characters, including letters, numbers and symbols — and avoid any personal information. Then keep your passwords in a protected place; writing them down and keeping the list of passwords in a secure spot is a good idea, instead of housing them on your devices. Make sure to also change/update your passwords regularly, and avoid using the same password for multiple devices or sites. And make sure to lock all of your computer, tablet and smartphone with secure passwords to prevent any unauthorized person from accessing them.

Think Twice Before Making Hasty Decisions

More and more our online experiences are interrupted by suspicious texts, emails and popups, asking for questionable information or inviting a click to an unfamiliar site. It’s imperative to assess these situations when they occur and think twice before making any decision to share your information online or be redirected to an unknown site. If you find yourself questioning the authenticity of a link, email or popup window, always use your intuition and best judgment before responding. And whenever possible, take a moment to research the source and determine if they’re legitimate.

Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out For Help

If you find yourself with questions about the technology devices you’re using or any programs, apps or websites, don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family or community members. When you’re on specific websites and run into roadblocks, look for FAQs, online chat boxes, phone numbers or “Need Help?” resources. Or simply go to “Contact Us” forms and send an email with your questions. 

Use Social Media Wisely 

As entertaining and engaging as it can be, social media can be a misleading environment if used without care or responsibility. If you want a more private digital space, make it a priority to change settings so that only those you follow or are friends with will see your posts. And most important, limit sharing your location in your profiles, personal settings and posts. For example, it might be hard to avoid the temptation to post while on vacation, but letting the public know that you’re away can potentially lead to unwanted events back home. 

Although it may seem like extra work to be secure and safe online, the effort and care that you take when active in your digital environments can give you peace of mind and a greater sense of control over your privacy and sensitive personal information.

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