Privacy for Seniors

1. Privacy for Seniors PRIVACY CONSIDERATIONS

2. Concern “According to insurer MetLife’s Mature Market Institute, American seniors lose $2.9 billion a year to fraud.” From: http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/03/15649600-why-older-people-fall-for-scams-its-all-in-the-brain?lite

3. Top Ten Worries for Seniors • Suspicious or scam phone calls • Emails from banks • Anti-virus ad popups • Cell phone texts from unknown numbers • Facebook settings • Online shopping and banking • Using credit / debit at online merchants • Suspicious emails from friends’ addresses • “Not a secure web site” message • Home computer settings

4. What Not to Do

5. What to Do? • Email, Social Media • Learn to identify suspicious or spam email, also known as phishing attacks • Set your privacy and security settings on all your social media accounts • Phone (Landline and Cell) • Learn to identify suspicious text messages • If possible, get & use caller ID to avoid answering scam calls • Post Mail • Use a cross-cut shredder to shred all confidential material

6. Fraudulent Email Samples More examples can be found here: • https://www.chase.com/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/privacy_security/fraud/page/fraud_examples

7. Check your social media settings • Video with instructions: • http://www.mediabistro.com/Protect-Your-Privacy-Social-Media-Settings-375-ondemandvideo.html • Remember to change the default privacy and security settings (these are often preset to share everything publicly and with other sites or applications) • Remember to check your “app” settings on Facebook • On Facebook, be sure to manage both your privacy and security settings • Remember to revisit your privacy and security settings from time to time to see if anything has changed

8. Who’s Calling? Stay informed – read current articles from reputable sources: • http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/index.shtml • http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-10-2012/stop-spam-text-messages.html • Don’t give out your information on the phone to anyone who calls you • If you need to talk with your bank, YOU call the bank at the number listed on your bank statement; do not call or respond to a number that is listed in a text message saying that it is from your bank • Do not download ringtones from unknown companies • Don’t assume that your caller ID accurately shows who is calling you – it may not be your bank or official organization • Review your bill for fraudulent charges (to avoid cramming) • Add your cell phone number to the “donotcall” list

9. Just Surfing… • Home computer settings & online shopping: • Don’t use the same password for multiple sites • Don’t use the same password for home that you use for work-related computers/accounts • Change your passwords frequently (every six months or so) • Use passwords that consist of letters, numbers, and special characters; don’t make up passwords which consist of words that can be found in a dictionary • Use WPA encryption on home wireless networks • Use anti-virus software on home computers; keep them updated • Don’t click on popup windows advertising anti-software programs (this is a common way hackers will try to infect your computer) • When shopping online, shop only from reputable merchants; look for the https (encrypted) symbol; shop using credit, not debit • Don’t use public networks to log in to personal accounts

10. RECAP & Resources It’s okay to be cautious – learn to spot scams and anything suspicious! Some good resources to learn more: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt01.shtm http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts