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Article published January 27, 2010
SCAM DANGERS Internet adds to hidden risks for seniors
GIBSONIA — Some St. Barnabas residents learned firsthand Thursday how easy it is to become tangled in scams that could lead to identity theft. Stephen Westerburg, head of security for Northwest Savings Bank, said he encounters hundreds of scams every year and advised senior citizens to be wary because many seem legitimate. Westerburg gave the same talk last year to residents and said he immediately saw results. Only hours after he spoke last year, a resident called him with concerns about a suspicious phone call she received from someone asking for her bank information. Westerburg investigated and found the resident was almost scammed, but she hung up the phone before divulging any sensitive information. He said one of the most common traps senior citizens fall into are "phishing" scams, or Web sites designed to look identical to reputable sites used by banks or online stores. He said people will often enter their personal information, including Social Security numbers and bank account numbers, into the Web site because they are unaware that it's an illegitimate site and that their identity had just been stolen. Westerburg said the best way to play it safe is to resist giving any personal information over the Internet. If at all possible, he said, it's best to contact someone from your bank by telephone if you must divulge personal information such as a PIN number. Westerburg also said many scammers play on the emotions and good-hearted nature of people, mainly senior citizens. He said people will often get a phone call or e-mail stating a loved one has been in a horrible accident and they need money. Many senior citizens, he said, act quickly on instinct before investigating the legitimacy of such a scenario. The identity theft talk was one in a series of Smart Money lectures at St. Barnabas. The topics are all chosen by the residents there, according to Allyson Sveda, the director of planned giving at St. Barnabas. She said this talk about identity theft is indispensable for senior citizens because they are often the demographic most targeted by scammers. Senior citizens also fall prey to scammers most often because they aren't familiar with the sheer number and types of scams that are out there, she said. "Senior citizens often aren't familiar with the technology often used by scammers," she said. "This is a great way to bring them up to date so they can keep their money and their identities safe." Westerburg gave a parting piece of advice before ending his talk. Since it's about time for the 2010 census, he offered some tips about ways to protect your personal information. Never let census workers in your house, he said, and by law all you have to tell them is how many people live in your house. Obviously, he said, never divulge any personal information concerning finances or your date of birth.
