Pop‑up and text message scams are costing victims money and compromising devices, cybersecurity professionals caution.

Washington

Cybersecurity experts have observed a significant increase in online and text message scams, with a particular focus on targeting senior citizens. These scams often involve pop-up warnings about fake technical issues or fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid tolls, job offers, or outstanding debts. Victims are tricked into clicking malicious links or providing personal information, which can result in financial loss.

Experts attribute the rise in scams to evolving technology and note that seniors are especially vulnerable due to lower tech familiarity and substantial financial assets. To protect against these threats, experts advise avoiding suspicious links, distrusting unsolicited requests for information, and using unique, strong passphrases for each account.

Experts warn of increase in scams targeting seniors

So we know scams are not new, but it's how scammers are targeting you that keeps changing. And that's why cyber security experts tell me it's more important than ever before that you stay alert. Online and text message scams are on the rise. Tim Harrington lives in St. Pete and tells Tampa Bay 28 he started noticing them a few years ago. And it's just gotten progressively worse since, like, it's completely out of control. So I asked former law enforcement officer turned cyber security expert Eva Santos about the increase. The scams have been pretty much the same. What's evolved is the execution of those scams using technology. It's something I also spoke with Chad Burney, chief financial officer of GTE Financial about to learn more about the latest ways scams have evolved. One of the scams that has come up lately is what we call the pop-up scam. That's where you're looking online and a warning message pops up that there's some kind of tech issue. People are clicking the links on that message and a virus downloads on their device. Then typically there's a phone number associated with the pop-up message claiming to be tech support. Burney tells me that's actually the scammer who then tries to get your personal information. They charge them on their credit card for a certain amount of money to fix their computer, but they never fix it. Experts also continue to see more text message scams where a fraudster claims you owe money, is offering you a job, or says you have to pay tolls and sends a bad link. The first time I started getting scam texts was the toll scams that were going on. Both Santos and Burney tell me senior citizens are being targeted the most right now. They tend to be more vulnerable. They tend to be less tech savvy. But what they all have in common is that they all have financial assets. They're encouraging everyone to avoid clicking links, don't trust anyone asking for your information, and change your passwords to your accounts. Take your password from a password and make it a passphrase. For example, let's just say it's a Southwest or American Airlines app or United Americas. You can basically create your password to say, I hate flying or I love flying. And then, you know, use the first letter of each one. Now, cyber experts also wanted me to stress to you that so many people use the same exact password for all of their accounts. That's why, again, they're encouraging you to change those passwords and make them all different.

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