Avoiding scams and fraudsters were the subject of chatter at an online safety event presented by Fibrus Broadband.
Members of the Chatter Matters social group, who meet each week at Ulverston Leisure Centre, shared experiences of life online and heard advice that included the famous line ‘if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is’.
The event aimed to help older people feel more confident by revealing common fraud tactics and tips for protecting your identity.
Sally Edgar, who delivered the presentation for Fibrus with colleague Maddie Roe, said: “Scams can come from all directions, maybe a phone call, an attachment on an email or a link on a website.
“The risk for older people is they lose confidence and withdraw from using digital services which is increasingly how the world works these days.
“The key message was about being aware and taking practical steps to stay safe. And we wanted to stress that though being scammed can be very upsetting, it can happen to anyone, so people should share their experiences to protect one another and not feel embarrassed.”
After the session 16 of the 18 people attending said they would feel more confident about spotting scams in the future. Half of them had social media accounts, but only two people knew about their privacy settings.
Shiela Spry said she found the session really useful, adding: “Personally, I am very careful with phone calls and emails that I get, but I know that others find it a worry.
“I have had scam emails claiming I have owed money for icloud and all sorts of things, but I just delete them.”
The Fibrus presentation drew on expertise provided by Age UK and Cumbria Police.
It explained how so-called pension reviews are a common scam used by cold callers.
Email and online fraud was discussed, including how artificial intelligence is now increasingly being used to create bogus images and video.
Tips on creating effective passwords were covered, plus advice for online shopping and paying safely using cards and mobile wallets.
Following the success of the session, Fibrus plans to repeat it at other Chatter Matter groups run in Kendal, Penrith and Appleby. Organised by Westmorland & Furness Council, the groups across the district provide a place for older people to socialise and receive useful advice on living well. People can simply drop in and the £2 cost covers lunch. Details can be found at westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
