(Design: Tharon Green | Image Credit: Westend61/Getty Images)
Many modern parents are more likely to soothe a cranky baby with a smartphone than a pacifier. But a good portion of our population grew up long before home computers became essential tools, and many were never comfortable with the technology. Comfortable or not, these folks have to get online for essentials like prescriptions and social security, or to see pics of their grandkids on social media. They are also prime targets for online scams and fraud.
Kerry Tomlinson spent decades as a TV news reporter, earning several Emmy awards and even going underground for investigations. She’s currently the editor-in-chief of Ampyx News, a YouTube channel focusing on cybersecurity. At the RSAC 2025 Conference in San Francisco, she shared some strategies to protect our senior population from online attacks and to give them the tools to protect themselves.
Who Counts as an Older Adult?
“The FBI defines elder fraud as affecting someone 60 or older,” said Tomlinson. “I interviewed many elders during my 30 years as a TV reporter. Why do the elderly fall for fraud? I analyzed more than 20 research projects to advance my understanding.”
Tomlinson noted that lately, “older adult” has become the preferred term. She went on to relate several examples of fraud and abuse that can affect older adults, including an instance where she was targeted and went along with the scam right up to the point of sending money.
“Older adults have every right to struggle with technology," Tomlinson said. “It is not a personal failing.” She hammered home that point with visuals of the top entertainment technology from each decade, from today’s smartphones and earbuds to the rotary phones and record players of yesteryear.
Tomlinson pointed out that fraudsters focus on creating stress and fear, creating urgency by representing themselves as government agents or other authority figures. “When you’re in your 70s or 80s, you have more time and, in some cases, more money to lose,” she said. Defrauded older adults lost an average of $83,000 per scam in the last year, almost all of it to social engineering attacks.
The Perils of Retirement
“What changes in our 60s,” asked Tomlinson. “Retirement is the big change.” On retirement, you lose the cognitive exercise of work, the connections with co-workers, and the easy tech support of asking a colleague when you have trouble. You lose the repetitive actions of your job that keep your critical thinking skills sharp.
(Credit: Kerry Tomlinson/RSAC)“Most important is losing the feeling of self-efficacy,” she said. “Cybersecurity seems unforgiving, and becomes overwhelming and stressful. Older adults turn to emotion-based coping. Things like denial of risk, giving up, and delegation of responsibility. They say, ‘The computer company should take care of this.’ We want to avoid this kind of coping.”
“They’re lucky to have us to help them, right?” said Tomlinson. “Well, not necessarily. Some of us say, ‘I will make them take responsibility!’ This backfires when they feel less self-efficacy. Maybe do it for them? Sometimes you need to, but that promotes powerlessness. Explain it to them? But we use terms they don’t understand, so it’s not always successful. And, be honest, do you feel annoyed? They know it, and it makes them feel incompetent.”
Getting Older Changes You
Tomlinson pointed out that older adults experience physical changes that also play a role. Their vision worsens and peripheral vision narrows, making it harder to take in everything on a big, busy screen. Some colors, especially pale pastels, become harder to distinguish.
(Credit: Kerry Tomlinson/RSAC)Hearing is an issue when you try to explain something to them or show them a video. Many experience memory changes, and have low cognitive energy and stamina to learn new things. Reduced ability to handle divided attention means that dealing with pop-ups and potential deception is harder. The brain literally gains a bias toward positive information, which typically means you become more trusting and more reliant on authority.
So, How Can We Help Older Adults?
Tomlinson offered three basic tenets to remember when helping older adults cope with technology problems. “Explain concepts, not terminology,” she said. “Which is more important, defining the word ‘phishing’ or knowing how the attacks happen? Explain why something happened and provide a solution. Tell stories about people, not about technology. And remember to account for those physical changes.”
(Credit: Kerry Tomlinson/RSAC)“Show, instead of do,” she continued. “Don’t take the keyboard away. And be prepared for repetition. Offer face-to-face help, when possible, and keep your short sessions informal and flexible.”
Tomlinson ended up with a two-part call for action. She advised attendees to check in with older adults in their lives and assess their needs right away. She also suggested attendees honestly assess their teaching style, with an eye to any needed changes. Within a few months, she recommended finding additional resources to help older adults and expand their circle of support.
We at PCMag are always looking for the best ways to help older adults avoid the many scams that target them. If you have an older adult in your life, check out our advice and consider offering them a smartphone designed specifically for seniors.