National Safety Month: Protecting Yourself in a Digital World

When we think about safety, we often focus on preventing physical injuries in the workplace, on the road or at home. Yet in today's connected world, protecting ourselves from digital threats has become just as important.

For healthcare organizations, digital safety is a daily priority. Hospitals, health systems and other healthcare providers are among the most frequent targets of cybercriminals because of the sensitive information they manage and the critical services they provide. Across the industry, organizations invest significant resources in cybersecurity to protect patient information and maintain trust.

As National Safety Month reminds us to identify risks and take proactive steps to prevent harm, it is also an opportunity to think about our own digital safety. While organizations work to safeguard their systems, individuals can take simple but important steps to protect personal information, recognize online threats and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud or cybercrime.

From communicating with family and friends and managing work to accessing healthcare information and conducting financial transactions, technology provides tremendous benefits to our lives. Yet, it also creates opportunities for cybercriminals and scammers to target unsuspecting individuals.

Understanding Digital Threats

Over the last 20 years, scams have evolved. Fraudulent phone calls and mail scams do still exist, but as technology continues to rapidly advance, scammers have adapted to utilize email, text messages, social media and even artificial intelligence to deceive their targets.

A few of the most common scams:

Impersonation Scams: Criminals pretend to be someone the victims knows, claiming to be a family member, a bank employee, healthcare representative or even a government official.

Phishing scams: A scammer sends messages that appear to be from trusted organizations such as a bank, government agency, online retailer or a healthcare provider. The messages often request the recipient click a link, provide personal information or download an attachment with a goal of stealing usernames, passwords, and financial information.

Tech support scams: These scams typically utilize messages or pop-up warnings saying a device has been infected with a virus or compromised by hackers. Victims are advised to call a provided phone number or even allow remote access to their computer. If instructions are followed, scammers may install malicious software or gain access to personal information.

Financial scams: Often promising unusually high returns with little risk, fraudulent investment opportunities typically involve fake financial advisors, cryptocurrency or fabricated investment platforms that appear to be legitimate. Keep in mind that if an investment opportunity seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

Red Flags That Should Raise Concern

While a scam can appear in many forms, most of them share similar warning signs. Learning these red flags can help you pause and question the details before you share personal information or send money.

Relying on emotion instead of logic, scammers want people to react quickly before they can process the situation and verify whether the request is legitimate.

No matter how the scam arrives, by phone, email text or social media, knowing these warning signs can protect you and your loved ones.

Be cautious if someone:

• Pressures you to act immediately.
• Requests payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
• Asks for account information or passwords.
• Says you won a contest you never entered.
• Threatens legal action or loss of benefits.
• Refuses to let you verify their identity.

Overall, one of the most important things to remember is that a legitimate organization will understand the need for verification and will not object if you take time to confirm their identity through official channels.

If the situation feels wrong, end the communication and spend a few minutes processing and confirming.

Why Older Adults are Targeted in Online Scams

Most scammers don’t specifically target individuals because they feel the victims lack intelligence. Skilled manipulators understand human behavior and how to effectively create situations that trigger fear, trust or concern, even when targeting highly educated and financially savvy individuals.

Older adults are often a target for scammers because of their likelihood of having accumulated significant savings and because they may be less familiar with rapidly changing technology. Additionally, scammers exploit feelings of isolation and create false relationships or emergencies to gain trust.

The good news is that protecting yourself from digital scams does not require advanced technology skills. Some of the most effective safeguards are simple habits:

• Never share passwords or security codes.
• Use unique passwords.
• Enable multi-factor authentication when possible.
• Verify unexpected calls, texts and emails before responding.
• Talk with a trusted family member if something seems suspicious.

Stay informed of emerging scams. Knowing what scammers are currently doing to target victims can help you recognize warning signs.

What to Do if You Think You’ve Been Scammed

It can be deeply unsettling to realize you have been scammed. People often feel not only angry, but embarrassed. However, it is important to remember that scammers are professionals who spend their time developing convincing tactics designed to deceive.

If you suspect you have shared information with a scammer, acting quickly can limit the damage and protect your accounts.

Take these steps immediately:

1. Stop communicating with the scammer.
2. Contact your bank immediately.
3. Change passwords for affected accounts.
4. Monitor your accounts for unusual activity.
5. Report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
6. Reach out to trusted family members or professionals for assistance.

Depending on the specific situation, there may be additional steps. If you shared credit card information, your bank may recommend freezing or replacing the card. And if a social security number was shared, monitoring your credit reports will be advised.

Remember, do not hesitate to report fraud. Hesitation due to embarrassment is understandable, but failure to act can have severe implications on your life. The sooner suspicious activity is identified, the more options may be available to secure accounts and prevent additional losses.

Building a Culture of Digital Safety

National Safety Month reminds us that safety extends beyond physical environments and into the digital spaces we navigate every day.

Healthcare organizations understand the importance of vigilance when it comes to protecting sensitive information, and the same mindset can help individuals protect themselves online. By recognizing common scam tactics, verifying unexpected requests and encouraging open conversations about online security, individuals and families can significantly reduce their risk.

As technology continues to evolve, so will the methods used by cybercriminals. Taking a moment to pause, verify and think critically before responding to an unexpected message or request remains one of the most effective ways to stay safe. A few moments of caution today can help prevent significant stress, financial loss and identity theft tomorrow.

Visit fbi.gov to learn more about current scams, how to avoid them and report fraud and cybercrime.