Murrieta Police Teach Cyber Safety Lessons For Seniors

MURRIETA, CA—Cyber-security was a top concern for one Murrieta senior community, and the Murrieta Police Department stepped in to educate residents on what to watch for at a recent Knolls Community Center's Health and Wellness event.

The Knolls of Murrieta is a 55 and up community situated off Murrieta Hot Springs Road. When they asked for help teaching cyber-security tips, two Murrieta police officers were happy to oblige.

"Officers Alexander and Martin attended the event," a spokesperson for the department said. They offered key tips for the community to help them protect themselves from becoming victims of cyber-security threats.

The audience listened raptly as experts taught them how to protect their passwords, homes, and financial information.

Security Tips For Seniors:

• Do not open any attachments unless you are expecting the file, document, or invoice and have verified the sender's email address.
• Do not send money to any person you meet online or allow a person you don't know well to access your bank account to transfer money in or out.
• Examine email addresses in all correspondence and scrutinize website URLs.

"Scammers often mimic a legitimate site or email address by using a slight variation in spelling," they said. Though the email may look like it comes from a legitimate company, the actual email address may be suspicious.

Banking websites agree. Wells Fargo's cyber security suggestions include reporting phishing and text message scams and not sharing passwords to your bank and credit card accounts.

• Watch out for fraud and scams that attempt to trick older or vulnerable adults into sending gift cards or money or giving up personal information or property. These scenarios may include scammers posing as technical support, IRS/Medicare representatives, grandchildren, love interests, or lottery/sweepstakes officials.
• Encourage older adults to get to know their neighbors and connect frequently with family. Isolation is often a contributing factor to elder financial abuse.
• Look out for signs of financial abuse by caregivers or relatives, such as requests for financial help or unexpected payments.

If you feel you have been scammed, there are things that can be done.

"Our good friends with the FBI created a website for those who believe they've fallen victim to an online scam or internet-enabled crime," the department shared over social media. If you believe you are a victim, file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center as soon as possible.

Reporting crimes is for investigative and intelligence purposes. It can also help you recover lost funds if you are a victim of a scam.

Visit www.ic3.gov for more information, including tips and information about current crime trends. You can also contact the Murrieta Police Department for assistance by calling 951-304-2677.

"Thank you for facilitating and sharing," one resident said over social media. "What a great service you all do for our community and its citizens."