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This week in our Cyber Sense series, we’re highlighting a scam that continues to devastate seniors and their families. Please share this with anyone who needs to see it.
The caller sounded calm. Professional. Familiar.
“Hello, this is the fraud department from your bank. We’ve detected suspicious activity on your account.”
For many seniors, that sentence alone is enough to trigger fear and urgency.
The caller already knew the victim’s name. The bank they used. Even the last four digits of their account. Everything sounded legitimate. The goal was simple: create panic, then offer a solution.
“You need to act immediately to protect your money.”
The instructions were clear:
- Go to the bank
- Withdraw a large amount of cash
- Hand it to a “courier” or deposit it into a “secure account”
The victim believed they were protecting their savings. In reality, they were handing it directly to a criminal.
Why This Scam Works So Well
This scam has impacted thousands of victims nationwide, and seniors are often targeted because criminals assume:
- They trust phone calls more than texts or emails
- They may be less familiar with modern fraud tactics
- They’re more likely to act quickly out of fear of losing savings
What makes this a cybercrime even though it happens over the phone is the use of stolen digital information. Criminals often gather details from:
- Data breaches
- Sophisticated Phishing emails
- Social media
- Public records
No legitimate bank will ever:
- Ask you to withdraw cash to “secure” your account
- Send someone to collect your money
- Pressure you to act immediately
- Ask you to keep the situation secret
What You (and Your Loved Ones) Should Do
If you receive a call like this:
1.Hang up immediately
2.Call your bank using the number on the back of your bank card
3.Talk to a trusted family member before taking action
4.Report the incident even if no money was lost (report to www.ic3.gov)
Awareness stops fraud before technology ever has to.
Cybercrime isn’t just emails and hacked passwords anymore. It’s psychological. It’s personal. And it often targets the people we love the most.
Content by 2inOne Security Group | Cyber education.
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