Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by nitwit005 on Sunday May 26, 2019 @02:28PM
(#20016527)
Based on my father and grandmother's interactions, suggesting they call if ever in doubt can be a big help. What saved her from the fake Microsoft support scam was her calling him to ask if she should go to someone cheaper to help with the non-existant issue.
Offering to do her taxes prevented some other scam. Although that did require flying out annually due to being so disorganized.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by erklik on Sunday May 26, 2019 @10:18PM
(#20018940)
> Based on my father and grandmother's interactions, suggesting they call if ever in doubt can be a big help.
However, do understand, that this can lead to the opposite effect of constantly calling on every little thing leading to them becoming even more dependent on you.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by adrianN on Monday May 27, 2019 @02:18AM
(#20019839)
Better dependent on you than losing their life savings to a scammer.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by jliptzin on Sunday May 26, 2019 @04:58PM
(#20017457)
After hearing about them getting scammed several times I finally had my parents agree to contact me before they are paying for anything online unless it's on Amazon.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by marmot777 on Monday May 27, 2019 @09:20AM
(#20021956)
Yes
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by m12k on Monday May 27, 2019 @02:20AM
(#20019843)
Also, tell them to be suspicious of email links that require them to log in. If "PayPal" sends an email saying you need to change your password or log in for some other reason, teach them to go to type paypal.com in the browser themselves instead of clicking the link.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by marmot777 on Monday May 27, 2019 @09:21AM
(#20021965)
Absolutely, repeat this a bunch of times even at the risk of being a bit annoying. It's worth it. Make that point. Anyone asking for your password or other sensitive info is very likely a fisher (aka a thief).
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by thr0w__4w4y on Wednesday May 29, 2019 @02:38AM
(#20037379)
Well, they may or may not be a fisher, but they are almost certainly a phisher.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by ThePirateofOz on Tuesday May 28, 2019 @06:26AM
(#20028756)
Show them some Kitboga videos. He actually will imitate an elderly woman to mess with the scammers. It shows how the scammers work and could be educational... and entertaining.
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by z3t4 on Sunday May 26, 2019 @03:20PM
(#20016860)
I guess the scammers have a larger market due to the internet, but someone who has lived must have been exposed to scams many times in their long life!?
Re:Ask HN: How do I make sure my non-technical parents are s...
by plasticchris on Sunday May 26, 2019 @03:49PM
(#20017032)
The problem is twofold, they don't have a good mental model of online interactions, and older people become more susceptible to deception as cognitive function declines.
Since they're not technical, their natural self-defense against this kind of this has trouble functioning online. Talk to them about real world analogs to pop-up ads that look like virus scanner alerts, talk to them about people pretending to be someone they know. Hell, show them the movie "Catch me if you can" and explain the same psychological tactics get used online.
Get them to consider "what do I really know, and is this too good to be true" before they talk to anyone, click a link, or buy anything online -- and they will be fine, if their judgement is otherwise unimpaired.
If they're very late in life, or otherwise have trouble with this kind of thing in the real world, there is unfortunately not much you can do to help them, other than force them to only use pre-installed apps on a tablet that you've selected, like you might with a small child. If they're not willing to do that, then it's unfortunately on them. I've had this experience both with my grandfather and a friend who lives with a brain injury, who are responsible for themselves but don't have the judgement necessary to realize how impaired they are.
And of course, make sure the computer is auto-rebooting to get updates, and they know to call you if they get a virus / malware popup they think could be real.