Preventing fraud against the elderly: The 5 Don'ts and 3 Dos Rules
To build a strong psychological "firewall" for the elderly, international cybersecurity and banking experts have compiled a simple yet effective set of action guidelines. These guidelines help the elderly stay calm and handle situations appropriately... from Preventing fraud against the elderly: The 5 Don'ts and 3 Dos Rules
by
Editor CLD
schedule15/12/2025
To build a strong psychological "firewall" for the elderly, international cybersecurity and banking experts have compiled a simple yet effective set of action guidelines. These guidelines help the elderly remain calm and handle any suspicious situation appropriately.
Taboo principles for protecting information and asset security.
DO NOT PROVIDE confidential information:
Never disclose your OTP code, password, ATM card PIN, or send photos of both sides of your ID card/citizen identification card/bank card to anyone online.
Banks and law enforcement agencies never ask people for this information over the phone or via text message. Anyone who asks for this is a scammer.
DO NOT TRANSFER MONEY because of a phone call:
Do not execute a money transfer order based solely on verbal instructions over the phone, even if the person claims to be a police officer, prosecutor, judge, or a crying relative.
All decisions regarding penalties or arrests must be in writing, bear official seals, and be made in person. The law does not operate over the phone.
DO NOT CLICK on suspicious links:
Do not click on any blue text (links) sent via SMS/Zalo/Facebook messages, even if it's a prize notification, a gift, or a warning about account suspension.
This is the fastest way to install malware or redirect users to fake websites to steal information.
DO NOT SIGN any documents until you fully understand them:
Do not sign any insurance contract, power of attorney, transfer deed, or document without carefully reading and fully understanding its contents, or without having your children/family members/lawyer review it for you.
A slip of the pen can be fatal. Fraudsters often use deceptive tactics to conceal unfavorable clauses in lengthy documents.
NO HIDING (No silence):
Don't remain silent out of shame or fear of being scolded by your children or grandchildren when you suspect you've been scammed. You must immediately tell your family or report it to the police.
The victim's silence is complicity, allowing the scammer to continue their activities. Reporting early helps prevent the money from being laundered.
Principles of action for verifying and controlling a situation.
You SHOULD apply the "10-Minute Rule":
When someone is urging you to transfer money urgently, pause, hang up, or delay for at least 5-10 minutes. Go get a drink of water, take a deep breath, or call someone else.
Effect: What scammers fear most is that their victims have time to think. Once emotions subside, reason returns and they realize the absurdity of the scam's scenario.
You SHOULD save an “Emergency Contact List”:
Keep a large piece of paper readily available or stick it next to your phone/door, including the number of:
Their most trusted children and grandchildren.
Local police station (Commune/Ward Police).
The call center the bank is currently using.
Purpose: To help elderly people know immediately who to call for verification in a panic, instead of following the advice of a bad person.
Regular financial checks are recommended:
Regularly check your account balance and savings passbook (you can ask your children or grandchildren to help you set up balance change notifications).
Function: Detects even the smallest unusual transactions early on.
Most importantly, the core "mantra" to break through all tricks:
All urgent legal and financial matters can never be resolved simply over the phone.
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