How to Protect Your Parents from Online Scams This Summer
By Tara Okhovatian, Broker | Community Educator | Covered by Tara
Summer should be a time of ease and enjoyment—not a season where your loved ones fall victim to online scams.
Unfortunately, scammers love to take advantage of slower summer routines, targeting older adults with schemes that prey on trust, fear, or confusion around technology. If you’re worried your parents—or any aging loved ones—could be vulnerable, now’s the time to help them get ahead of the risks.
Here’s how to protect your parents from online scams this summer—and how you can empower them to stay safe with confidence.
🌐 Common Summer Scams Targeting Seniors
Whether it’s a fake travel deal or a message from a “grandchild in trouble,” these scams are designed to look real. Here are a few to be aware of:
- Vacation & Rental Scams: Ads for too-good-to-be-true travel deals or rental properties that don’t exist.
- Medicare/Health Scams: Calls or emails claiming Medicare cards need to be “updated” or offering fake benefits.
- “Grandparent” Scams: A fraudster pretends to be a grandchild needing bail money or emergency help.
- Tech Support Pop-Ups: Fake virus warnings that trick users into calling a scam number.
- Gift Card Scams: Requests to buy gift cards and share the code—often disguised as a message from a family member or authority figure.
🔒 Five Steps to Keep Your Parents Safer Online
1. Create a Safe Browsing Routine
Help them understand which websites are safe to visit. Bookmark trusted websites for them, including banks, Medicare, and insurance portals. Show them how to recognize a secure connection (look for the padlock icon 🔒 in the browser).
2. Set Up Scam Filters & Alerts
Enable scam filters on email platforms like Gmail. Make sure pop-up blockers are turned on. If they’re on Facebook or other social media, help them adjust privacy settings so they’re not an open book for fraudsters.
3. Teach the Golden Rule of Tech Safety:
“If you’re not sure, don’t click, don’t pay, don’t reply.” Encourage them to ask you or a trusted friend before taking any action they’re unsure of.
4. Have the “Gift Card Talk”
Let them know that no legitimate organization or family member will ever ask for gift cards over the phone or email. If they hear this, it’s a red flag—no matter how convincing it sounds.
5. Stay in Communication
Sometimes seniors don’t report scams because they’re embarrassed. Let them know there’s no shame in being cautious or even falling for a scam—it can happen to anyone. Keeping the lines of communication open creates a stronger layer of protection.
👩💻 Local Support Makes a Difference
If you’re local to the Volusia County area, you’re invited to attend our free Senior Tech & Scam Protection Class on Tuesday, July 2nd. We’ll go over:
- How to spot a scam
- How to protect your identity online
- How to safely navigate websites and social media
- What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
📍Location: Port Orange Adult Activity Center
🕙 Time: 10 AM – 11 AM
💡 Cost: Free to the community
💬 Final Thought: Empowerment Over Fear
We don’t need to scare our parents—we just need to empower them. Learning about scams isn’t about becoming paranoid. It’s about becoming prepared. When we give our elders the tools and confidence to navigate technology, we not only protect them—we help them stay connected to the world.
Need a printable checklist or tech support for your parent?
Feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to help.
—
Tara Okhovatian
📞 386.229.5885 x 1 | ✉️ tara@coveredbytara.com
💻 www.coveredbytara.com
📱 Follow on Facebook & Instagram @CoveredByTara
Proudly blending health advocacy with community education.
