How to Differentiate Authentic Online Connections from
Fake Ones
From Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to community and special interest sites like Next Door and Senior Forums, the internet has given unlimited opportunities to connect with people and make new friends. That’s something to enrich your life, especially if you’re a senior who is less able to get out and about.
Unfortunately, it comes with a downside. That social connectivity has provided unlimited opportunities for liars, cheaters, and scammers looking to con unsuspecting seniors into sharing information that could harm them financially or emotionally. Precisely why it’s important to know how to fiercely protect yourself online.
The first line of defense is to make sure you know who you’re communicating with by learning how to differentiate authentic online connections from fake ones. A full 60% of all online profiles are fake or inactive! Here are 5 simple ways to spot them:
- Check the profile for “red flag” words – Scammers will say things to capture your interest. If you see the following keywords prominently in an online profile on a social media site, beware. The majority of fake ones contain the words: widowed, Catholic, self-employed, female, engineer, Royalty, Ph.D., and Nigeria.
- Only having one photo – This is typically a dead giveaway, especially if the photo on the profile is someone exceptionally attractive. They’re using that pretty or handsome face to lure you into sharing information that could endanger you or your finances.
- Skimpy or empty profile information – Real people have real lives, experiences and friends that paint a picture of who they are. If they have “no friends to show”, don’t say where they’ve worked or lived, or leave large areas of their profile empty, you’re probably looking at a scammer.
- Poor grammar or nonsensical messages – If the profile is chockful of misspellings and grammatical errors or the posts are filled with oddly worded sentences and even what looks like gibberish, take a step back. Chances are it was created by a non-English speaker or robot. This is especially true of romance scammers who want to steal your heart on the way to your wallet.
- Asking for personal information – If the would-be thief somehow gets past your initial vetting, there’s one last big red flag that indicates this person is not a harmless new friend you’ve made online. Anyone requesting information such as your address, phone number, credit card number, PINs, passwords, bank information or Social Security number is likely up to no good. Sharing this information puts you at a high-risk of identity theft. If someone asks, do not tell! Immediately break off all contact with them.
Discovering new friends online can be a fun pastime as long as you are careful and protect yourself by being able to identify and avoid fake online connections.
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