What is Silver Safe and Secure?

Hello! We are Silver Safe and Secure, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing online fraud among seniors through digital safety programs targeted to adults over the age of 50. 

Established in 2023, our mission at Silver Safe and Secure is to educate and empower older adults to protect themselves from the dangers of online scams. We achieve this by offering hands-on digital literacy workshops at no cost to participants (thanks to our generous donors!), ensuring attendees can navigate the digital world safely and confidently. Digital literacy programs are crucial for protecting individuals from fraud and stopping the financial and emotional devastation caused by online scams.

Below are some common types of scams that target the elderly:

Phishing and Email Scams

The scammer uses fake sites or publicly available information to trick you into clicking or downloading something, to steal personal data and/or money.

Quick Tips

  • Verify the source. Is it a familiar name with a new phone number or email?

  • Do not click unknown or suspicious links.

  • Contact the organization or individual directly. For example, if your bank appears to call you from an unknown number, hang up and call them back on the number from their website. If your daughter calls you “from a new phone number,” write down the new number, hang up, and call her old number first.

Romance Scams

Scammers pretend to want a friendship or relationship with you and, after gaining your trust, they will ask for money because of an urgent problem. It will start with small amounts or favors, and gradually increase.

Quick Tips

  • Slow down and question. If something seems odd, ask a family member for a second opinion.

  • Never send the money. If you have already sent some, it is gone. Do not send more.

  • Research and verify. Do they have any other social media profiles that verify their identity? Do their photos appear on Google search?

Tech Support Scams

Scammers pretend to work for the government or a tech company and tell you there's an issue with your device. The scammer will send a request to control your computer, then lock it, take personal information, and steal passwords.

Quick Tips

  • Know your service providers. If your internet provider calls you to report a problem, get the incident number, hang up, and call them back on the phone number from their website.

  • Do not grant remote access, even if it seems more efficient and easier.

  • Companies will almost never call you to report a new problem. If someone calls you to tell you about a new, unknown problem, it is almost always a scam.