how to teach my parents about Internet safety without being patronizing?

[jeremyisahunt]

As the title says really...

My parents are in their 60s, so not old, but not young either. I keep seeing threads on mn about older parents getting scammed, so I want to educate my parents before they get scammed. They both use computers/smart phones, but are not overly skilled with them. I'm sure they would have problems telling the difference between an advert and a genuine hyperlink, for example.

I want to sit them both down and teach them about scamming and how to avoid it. How would be the best way to approach this?

[SoThatHappened]

Before they get scammed? They may never

Slight over kill to sit them down and teach them.

[BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted]

I'm in my 60s and probably know more about internet safety and online security than you do!

Just because people are older does not make them doddery fools.

By all means mention that there are fraudsters out there and people aren't always what they seem but leave it at that.

[DramaAlpaca]

They are probably much more aware than you think they are, especially as they use smart phones and computers.

I'm in my early 50s as is DH and our young adult DC are often guilty of thinking we know less about this stuff than they do.

It will be very hard to say anything to them without sounding patronising, tbh.

[Pannacott]

Start by asking them what they think about Internet security etc - have they heard about these scams? They might be quite well informed.

If they don't seem as up to speed as you'd hoped, tell them about some (not in an educating way, just conversationally), then ask if they'd like some help accessing information about how to protect themselves. If they would, a combo of stuff you know and accessing literature directly could be a good balance, with an off for them to run things by you if

[JassyAlconleigh]

I found telling them stories about people their age who'd been fiddled was a good start.

They would harrumph in disbelief at other peoples gullibility then after about half an hour ask rather airily 'so, er, how exactly do these scanning chaps work?'

I imagine they'd rather be patronised than ripped off.

My DH is in security and he says he still has to check some sites twice. There are very sophisticated financial scammers out there.

[Pannacott]

Hadn't quite finished! With an offer for them to run things by you if they aren't sure.

You are doing a nice thing and if they feel you have misjudged them, hopefully they can see it comes from a place of care or over anxiousness on your part. You can use a bit of self deprecating humour at the role reversal / you being a fusspot.

[jeremyisahunt]

Thanks everyone.

Also, please don't think I meant to be offensive. I only mentioned their age because they obviously won't have had computers growing up, like I did.

[ratspeaker]

Could you direct them towards a site like Scamwarners where they could read up on what type of scams are out there and how they work.
www.scamwarners.com


Also have a look on their banks website to see if there is information on scams and how to spot them. My bank has this under security centre and gives advice on phising, scam emails and phone calls.