As scammers get more and more skilled with the latest technology advancements, seniors attended a workshop to learn how to avoid those scams.
Some scammers may even pretend to call you and be someone you know – which is exactly what happened to one Bronx resident’s close friend.
“One of my girlfriends received a call and he said ‘Grandma blah blah’ and she listened to everything he said, and she said, ‘Son, I feel sorry for you but I have no grandchildren. So, that was the end of that conversation,” said Bronx resident Cora Turner.
Link NYC partnered up with the Andrew Freeman Home to teach older New Yorkers the warning signs of an online scam, which include:
- Typos or misspellings in a message
- Pressuring you to send money immediately
- Asking for personal information over the phone or in an email
The instructor of the class, Tony Parent, suggests contacting the organization or your bank immediately after interacting with a potential scammer or having a second set of eyes look at the email or message.
The Andrew Freeman Home says they plan to hold more digital literacy workshops in the future.