Musings on seniors and ID theft

Given the string of well-publicized ID theft schemes recently, it seemed HelpNet’s choice of putting out tips for seniors to avoid identity theft was a good idea.

Of course, then it occurred to me that maybe HelpNet wasn’t in the top ten of sites that the elderly are likely to read with any frequency.    So good effort, HelpNet… but your tips, though useful, are likely to go unread.

Which is a shame.  Because seniors (particularly those that don’t use computers or the Internet) are at risk – more-so because of the online access to records and data.  Those folks don’t realize they are move vulnerable now than they were twenty years ago.  But they are.

Of course, it’s no wonder why.  Note that I’m not about to dig on HelpNet, but I think the following screen capture of the article-reading experience illustrates just a tiny bit of why this problem is as big as it is.  Namely, conflicting and contradictory advice – even from the same source.  Check it out:

If you can’t read the text and don’t want to follow the link, the text warns about the dangers with supplying your email address to web sites… right under the box where you can submit your email address to their website.  Mixed message.

Anyway, just a few thoughts.