Scammers are increasingly targeting seniors who avoid social media, using public records to steal personal information and money.
Many seniors often believe that by avoiding social media and the internet, they are safe from scammers. However, this assumption is misleading. Even those who have never posted online can become victims of fraud.
Scammers can gather a wealth of information about individuals, including their age, home address, names of relatives, property values, and even details about personal losses. This information is often obtained through public records that are digitized and sold, allowing fraudsters to exploit it for their gain.
The reality is that personal information can become public record without any action from the individual. This is largely due to the operations of legal and governmental systems that automatically make certain details accessible. Common sources of this information include obituaries, real estate filings, and probate records.
While these records may seem innocuous on their own, when combined, they create a comprehensive profile of an individual’s life. One particularly cruel scam that has emerged is known as the bereavement scam. In this scheme, scammers monitor local obituaries to identify individuals who have recently lost a loved one. They then reach out to these individuals, posing as funeral homes, grief counselors, or charities, using real names and dates to lend authenticity to their claims.
During times of mourning, individuals are often more vulnerable and less guarded, making them prime targets for these types of scams. Scammers are aware of this emotional vulnerability and exploit it to steal money and personal information.
Even more troubling is the fact that scammers can continue to target the loved ones of deceased individuals long after their passing. They may contact relatives, offering free memorial services or financial products, preying on their grief and vulnerability. This exploitation is made possible by the personal data that has been exposed.
Many people do not realize that scammers typically do not sift through courthouse files themselves. Instead, they rely on data brokers—companies that specialize in collecting and selling personal information. These brokers gather data from various sources, including public records, online purchases, and even leaked information from data breaches.
The result is a detailed, searchable profile that can be sold to anyone willing to pay for it. Even if an individual has never engaged with social media, they may still have a ‘shadow profile’ created from information shared by others or from data breaches. This makes it easier for scammers to target them.
Fortunately, individuals are not entirely powerless against these threats. While it is impossible to eliminate public records, there are steps that can be taken to make it more difficult for scammers to access and misuse personal information. One effective strategy is to utilize data removal services, which actively monitor and remove personal information from various websites. While these services may come at a cost, they can provide peace of mind and significantly reduce the risk of identity theft.
By limiting the availability of personal information, individuals can decrease the likelihood of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with publicly available information. This makes it harder for fraudsters to target them effectively.
It is essential to recognize that simply avoiding social media does not guarantee invisibility. Scammers do not need individuals to share their lives online; their offline activities can also be tracked and exploited. Public records, such as obituaries and property deeds, are transformed into data points that are sold to brokers and resold to scammers.
Protecting personal data is not solely about avoiding the internet; it is about actively managing and reducing the information that is already available. The less data that scammers can find, the more challenging it becomes for them to execute realistic and emotionally charged attacks. This is a crucial step in safeguarding one’s identity, finances, and retirement.
As concerns about data privacy continue to grow, many individuals believe it is time for government and companies to take stronger action to protect personal information. Engaging in discussions about data privacy can help raise awareness and promote change.
Source: Original article