Senior citizens armed against cyber crimes
According to FNB, the elderly are the most common and vulnerable targets of cyber crimes.
As we look back on Cyber-Security Awareness month, the community’s most vulnerable and common targets, the elderly, have been advised to remain vigilant.
The fourth industrial revolution is upon us, and with that comes a new batch of tongue twirling tech gizmos that are, in all honesty, a bit tricky to keep up with. This, of course, has also seen the rise of cyber-crimes. Almost everyone you know has, at one point, been hacked, tricked, or hoodwinked. While the younger generation has fairly remained on top of the tech wave, the elderly have been the biggest and most common victims.
This was according to Giuseppe Virgillito, First National Bank’s (FNB) Head of Digital Banking.
“Managing one’s money is a collective effort between the customer and a bank, however, criminals are aware that banks continue to make a substantial investment in security systems, therefore they predominantly target customers when attempting to defraud. Often, the victims are senior customers who either welcome unsolicited help or those who are unfortunately unaware of modus operandi. To prevent this, we at FNB have been investing a significant amount of resources to inform, educate and support seniors and all other customers to safely use digital platforms,” he said.
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Sarah Sindane, A 76-Year-old from Pimville said only recently started teaching herself about cybersecurity. “It was never something we focused on, but the world is changing so fast and you have to keep up. When it comes to keeping your information safe, take all the necessary precautions. Nabazukulu (grandchildren) can teach you a thing or two,” she said.
Her close friend, 67-Year-Old, Thandi Mohlala said she avoids using too many gadgets in her life. “I haven’t used them, to be honest. I have a phone for calls but that’s about it, for banking I follow the normal steps, to keep my information to myself and only allow the security guard to help me at the ATM,” said Mohlala.
In general, Virgillito advised that senior citizens should practice caution by; Protecting Pins and Passwords, checking bank statements regularly, and reporting all lost or stolen cards as well as any irregularities
He also called on community members to protect senior citizens “We also implore all our customers to please help educate senior citizens in their immediate circles about the above, whether it be grandparents, elderly parents, or any close friends of the family. Just as customers wouldn’t leave their cash lying around, their bank card and information should equally be as safeguarded,” concluded Virgillito.
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