7 Ways to Protect Yourself from Common Technology Scams

Technology has become an integral part of the way our world functions. It affects everything from the way in which we socialize (social media), the way we shop (online) and the way we travel (SpaceX, anyone?). Technology has also had a significant impact on our health and wellness, especially when it comes to aging.Seniors and TechnologyWhile many people might have outdated views about seniors and technologynamely that the two dont mixrecent trends would prove otherwise. Research published in 2017 by Pew Research Center found that 4 in 10 seniors own smartphones, more than doubling the amount who owned them in 2013. They also found that 32 percent of seniors own tablets, 19 percent own e-readers, and 34 percent are now using social media networks like Facebook and Twitter.When it comes to seniors and technology, the demographic is now more plugged in than ever before. Although the prior generation might have resisted incorporating technology into their daily lives, many Baby Boomers know how to use computers for work, use smartphones to keep in touch with their children and like the space-saving benefits of e-readers. As the Baby Boomers continue to age into senior citizenship, they continue to dispel the old myths about seniors and technology not being a good match.The Benefits of Technology For SeniorsThe benefits of technology for seniors are expansive, but all aim to improve the overall quality of life. Some of the best technology for seniors not only provides some sort of service but also enhances independence. In fact, smartwatch technology can save your life! Here are some of the biggest benefits of technology for seniors that weve identified: Social Wellness: Isolation and loneliness are devastating side effects of aging, especially when seniors choose to age in place. Loneliness can actually be as harmful to your health as smoking 10 cigarettes every day or drinking alcohol excessively. But thanks to advancements in technology, seniors can remain connected to family and friends using social networks and video chatting through FaceTime and Skype. Health & Fitness: With 25 percent of people over the age of 65 living with diabetes, a focus on improving health and fitness habits is recommended by physicians and insurance companies alike. Starting any new habit can be a real challenge, but wearable fitness devices are one of the great benefits of technology for seniors, making it fun and holding you accountable for your actions. Safety: Seniors are more likely to experience falls and the risk increases with each passing year. But thanks to advancements in technology, seniors can remain safer, both at home or out in the world, thanks to medical alert devices. Medical Guardian carries a wide variety of products that have a range of technology for seniors--from wireless connectivity to GPS to automatic fall detection to an all-in-one multi-functional medical alert smartwatch. Convenience: Lets face it, technology just makes your life easier. The invention of the Internet literally put the world at peoples fingertips, and when it comes to seniors and technology modern technology gives them access to the world beyond their own home. Some of the premier benefits of technology for seniors include on-demand grocery delivery, door-to-door car pickups at the touch of a button, and the ability to order a new pair of shoes with next day delivery. Incorporate Technology Into Everyday Life The best technology for seniors will empower them to live more independently in their daily life. While some might hesitate to embrace technology, the truth of the matter is that there is really no escaping it. Technology is here to stay, and its not a bad thing. Technology allows seniors to live a life without limits, which is exactly what Medical Guardian aims to achieve for all of our clients. So, what are you waiting for?

In September 2018, Apple announced its newest updates and features to the Apple Watch Series 4, drawing nationwide attention from every demographic, including seniors. In an attempt to cater more of its services towards the older demographic, Apple implemented fall detection capabilities.Medical Guardian breaks down Apples fall detection technology and Emergency/SOS feature, sharing the differences to Medical Guardians medical alert service and Apples emergency features.Designed for the Older AdultAll of Medical Guardians medical alert systemsin-home, mobile, and wearableare designed specifically for an older adult (aged 65+) or younger adults who have a medical condition that may require immediate medical attention. On the other hand, the Apple Watch Series 4 and other wearable fitness trackers that offer Emergency services are designed for consumers on the healthier side rather than those who already have medical issues.Simple One-Step Call to HelpIn the event of an emergency or high-stress situation, the last thing you want to feel is frustrated while trying to call for medical assistance. With Medical Guardian, Emergency/SOS is our core feature to all of our products. Through a single button press (or 3-second press on our smartwatch hi-res touchscreen) individuals can easily and immediately get the medical assistance they needwith no extra steps.With Apple Watch Series 4, the customer needs to not only press their SOS button (which easily blends into the watch) on its side but then also (1) choose from three options including Power Off, Medical ID and SOS (2) either slide the SOS option or (3) hold the SOS side button for 5 seconds. In a time-sensitive medical emergency, and for those whose eyesight may not be as good as it once was, this 3-step process may be confusing, time-consuming, and difficult to navigate for older adults.Fall Detection CapabilitiesMedical Guardian offers automatic fall detection (a technology that detects falls to make sure a customer can get help even when theyre unable to press their help button) to four out of six products on its product line. Medical Guardians smartwatch does not include fall detection because falls are most accurately detected when the technology is worn close to the body, specifically by the breastplate, as its extremely sensitive. While Apple included fall detection on their Series 4 smartwatch, they publicly warned that physically active people are more likely to trigger false alarms, as its fall detection algorithms arent infallible.24/7 Personalized DispatchWhen Medical Guardians medical alert HELP button is pressed or when a fall is detected via fall detection technologya wireless signal will immediately be sent to Medical Guardians 24/7 monitoring centerconnecting you with a highly trained operator that has the customers personal information on file. Personal information may include health information, the best way to enter into a residence (with lockbox passcode information), as well as contact information for the customers Care Circle (loved ones and caregivers). Whether a customers medical situation requires EMTs or a simple helping hand, Medical Guardian operators are trained to dispatch both emergency and non-emergency services.UL-Certified Monitoring CenterApple Watch Series 4s only connection to medical assistance is directly through 911. Their service does not offer a monitoring center to evaluate a situation or offer non-emergency assistance that does not require an ambulance or emergency personnel. With Medical Guardians highly certified, U.S.-based monitoring center, the customers medical situation is evaluated, and able to dispatch the exact type of assistance they request and need. Having a monitoring center results in a decrease of false dispatch emergenciessaving emergency resources and assisting in keeping the 911-dispatch line open for EMT emergencies.Emergency Dispatch CancellationIts never been easier to cancel an emergency call with Medical Guardians medical alert systems. For instance, if fall detection happens to detect a false fall, the customer will have 20 seconds to cancel the alarm, by simply pressing the fall detection pendant before connecting with an operator form a monitoring center. If the customer does not cancel before 20 seconds, they can simply tell the emergency operator that it was a false alarm and assistance is not needed.When fall detection goes off with the Apple Watch Series 4, the wearer only has 60 seconds to cancel the emergency call. After 60 seconds, the emergency call will be placed automatically, sending the wearers location to emergency contacts. This can be stressful and frustrating for the wearer, emergency contacts, and emergency services if the technology triggered a false alarm and medical assistance was never needed.AffordableAs Americans are living longer and the cost of long-term care continues to rise, seniors are often left outliving their financial savings. According to a 2017 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the cost for assisted living per month is $3,750 and the average monthly cost of adult daycare (5 days/week) is $2,100, according to SeniorLiving.org. Medical Guardians medical alert systems play a significant role in keeping older adults safely and confidently in the comfort of their own homeslongerwhile also providing peace of mind for their loved ones.Medical Guardians medical alert smartwatch costs $99 with a $44.95/month monitoring service charge and our other devices have a free equipment charge, with a monthly monitoring service charge ranging from $29.95 to $79.95. Apple Watch Series 4 ranges from $399 to $1,499 depending on the devices service offerings. Plus, Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS and Cellular) requires an iPhone 6 or later with iOs 12 or later, while Medical Guardians Freedom Guardian smartwatch is an all-in-one standalone device that includes GPS and cellular connectivity, no phone needed.  

We live in an incredible age. Technology, like the internet and mobile telephones, has created amazing opportunities for us stay informed about current events, to correspond with family members and even to view the latest pictures of our grandchildren while theyre away at summer camp. The internet is an exciting place. But would it surprise you to learn that senior citizens are among the fastest-growing groups of internet users in the United States?Research conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 67 percent of adults over the age of 65 spend time online. Thats an astonishing increase compared to the 14 percent of seniors who reported using the internet in 2000. As seniors today are adopting technology in greater numbers, many remain highly vulnerable to deceptionwhich is why online senior safety education should be a top priority.Elder Fraud Can Happen To AnyoneCon-artists prey on seniors, who arent always familiar with the latest tricks they employ to approach their victims. Some of these elder fraud scams have been identified, such as telemarketing ploys, internet fraud, investment schemes, and lottery fraud. But scammers continue to find new ways to prey on seniors and others who are vulnerable online.In fact, perhaps one of the most well-publicized scams was back in 2016 during the Presidential election. John Podesta, the campaign manager for Hillary Clinton, fell prey to a common online scam called phishing. He was sent an email that looked like it was from Gmail asking for his password, but it was really a link to a third-party site that was hoping he would click on it in order to steal his data. If he had looked closely at who was sending the email, he would have noticed that the email address used was bogus. If it had been real, the email would have come from someone at google.com, but instead, it was sent from someone at googlemail.com. Its a small detail to notice, which is why John Podesta fell for it.The good news is that you dont have to stop using your phone or computer to protect yourself against elder fraud. You simply need to know what to look out for.Online Safety For SeniorsEducation and awareness is the first step in maintaining safety, online, and in-person. Here are a few tips to help protect yourself from scammers:Trust Your SuspicionIf something seems fishy, it probably is. Dont let an aggressive scammer talk you out of your first instinct. With telemarketing scams, in particular, the caller may pose as a credit card company representative, a bank employee or even your own grandchild. If you dont recognize the voice of the person on the other end of the line or if you dont have an account with the company that he or she claims to represent, dont hesitate to voice your suspicion. If the person on the other end is who he or she claims to be, they should be able to prove it to you. If they cant, just hang up as it is probably an elder fraud scheme.Dont Be PressuredOne tactic that a lot of scammers will use is to pressure you with a sense of urgency. For instance, an article in Keloland tells of an 86-year old man who was harassed by a caller claiming to be his grandson. In this case, the scammer attempted to convince the would-be victim to wire him bail money for release from an international jail. The perpetrator attempted to convince the well-meaning senior that his situation was urgent and his need for money was immediate. Fortunately, the perpetrator, in this case, failed to make a convincing case. But other seniors have been less fortunate and fallen for an elder fraud plot. Dont let an aggressive email or phone call pressure you into making a costly mistake.Ask QuestionsThe last thing a scammer wants to do is answer a lot of questions. Any time you receive a phone call or an email from an unfamiliar source, you have a right and a responsibility to learn more. If the individual claims to be a customer service representative, ask for more information about the company. Ask for the callers Customer Service ID number. Ask to speak with a supervisor. Ask if theres a number that you can use to reach the caller after youve done a little research. Ask as many questions as you possibly can. Ultimately, the more questions you ask, the more uncomfortable the scammer will become. In the end, the way that the individual answers these questions will either remove your suspicions or help you to uncover the callers true intentions.Talk to Somebody You TrustIf you receive a suspicious email or phone call, seek out a trusted family member, friend or even a bank employee for advice. Tell somebody else about the contents of the suspicious correspondence and get a second opinion. Before you respond, and especially before you open up your checkbook, consult somebody close to you. Sometimes, the warning signs are easier to spot when you have help.Keep Private Information PrivateNever, ever give away critical personal information to a random caller or email correspondent. Its critical to senior safety to keep that information private. Only scammers will contact you and ask for your bank account number, your social security number or a credit or debit card number. Your bank or credit card company will never contact you and ask for this information over the phone or by email. If somebody that you dont know asks for this critical information, simply refuse and cease contact.Senior Safety Online And At HomeA medical alert device can protect you from more than just medical emergencies. Here at Medical Guardian, weve had clients call into our monitoring center for a variety of reasonsa home invasion, a fire, or even if youre experiencing harassment from a senior scammer. When it comes to senior safety, a medical alert system is an all-purpose way to remain protected offline, or online.