Finally got my mom to stop clicking every email link, it only took a phishing scam and $200

My mom called me in a panic last month because her email was sending weird messages to everyone. She'd clicked a link in an email that looked like it was from her bank, and it asked her to log in. She did, and they got her password. They used her account to send more scams and even tried to buy a few gift cards, but her card flagged it. Still, she was out $200 from a small transfer they did before we froze everything. I spent the next three days helping her change every password, turn on two-factor for her main accounts, and set up a password manager. The worst part was seeing how real that fake email looked. Now she asks me about every single link, which is a win, but a tough way to learn. Has anyone found a good way to explain to family what a real bank email actually looks like?

2 comments

2 Comments

grant521mo ago

Tell my dad to hover over links to see the real web address. He just squints at the screen and says it all looks like gibberish to him anyway.

terry_adams811mo ago

Honestly that "gibberish" line is so real, my mom used to say the same thing. I thought it was a lost cause until her friend got scammed by a fake bank link that looked perfect. Now I show her how the actual address in the bar is totally different from the clickable text. It finally clicked for her that the gibberish part is what you gotta check.