Tim McDearmon from the Center for Cyber Safety and Education at Schreiner University presented the program “Safe and Secure Online for Seniors” at last Wednesday’s meeting of the Kerrville Rotary Club.The U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimate shows individuals aged 65 and older make up 18.9 percent of the U.S. population, which equals roughly 64.6 million people based on July 2025 population estimates.“Unfortunately, the internet has created a platform for criminal activity and a place where people can pretend to be anyone they want,” McDearmon noted.
Four common cybersecurity issues facing seniors are getting malware/virus into a computer or phone, phishing/smishing where information is stolen, fake AI profiles where someone pretends to be someone you know, and identity theft.“Seniors are often targeted by scammers because they know that’s where the money is. Most seniors have not received cybersecurity training because they retired before it became an issue,” McDearmon told Rotary members.Reasons that seniors are particularly vulnerable and that online scammers target them include:• They have accumulated wealth/financial assets;• They usually possess excellent credit scores;• Because of their traditional upbringing, they are trusting of authority and mannerisms;
• Seniors are used to sharing their personal information with doctors, caregivers and government services.McDearmon said the most common kinds of online scams include:• Parent/guardian/grandparent scams when they receive phone calls from a person who alleges to be a child or grandchild who is in a crisis situation and needs money. The call includes a request to send money, a gift card or other form of financial aid to get the child out of trouble. Remember that AI can now clone voices;• IRS scams, a call allegedly from the Internal Revenue Service regarding mistakes on a tax return, unpaid taxes or other issues. The IRS will never call you. If you get a call claiming to be the IRS, hang up;• Someone needing money for a funeral or medical expenses;• Someone telling you that you’ve inherited money from an estate and you need to send money to get money;• Medicare scams;• Romance scams.
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