TLDR
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Maintain awareness: Talk about cyber threats and understand common scams targeting seniors to recognize risks and be prepared.
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Follow cyber security best practices: Use strong, unique passwords; avoid public WiFi for sensitive tasks; limit social media oversharing; update devices and software regularly.
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Leverage security tools: Activate transaction alerts, Autodeposit, Card Lock, and 2-Step Verification for bank accounts.
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Build a support network: Establish a family code word for emergencies and designate a trusted contact for tech/financial issues.
Protecting seniors from cyber crime doesn’t require deep technical knowledge or hours of effort. But it does call for some everyday vigilance and a few cyber-smart habits.
Start with awareness
Staying safe from scams begins with understanding what’s out there. A clear picture of the risks can help make unfamiliar situations easier to recognize.
1. Talk openly about common scams
Open, judgment-free conversations about scams, risks and real-life scenarios can make it easier to address fraud if a loved one is targeted. The goal isn’t to warn or lecture, but to offer a space where questions feel welcome. Taking the time to understand common scams and why seniors are often targeted can make those situations feel less surprising and easier to navigate if they arise. For a starting point, our article on the top scams affecting seniors covers what today’s most common scams look like.
2. Review the cyber security basics
Good cyber security is both proactive and reactive: putting safeguards in place ahead of time and knowing how to respond if something feels off.
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Use strong, unique passwords: If your password is easy to guess or used across multiple sites, it makes it easier for criminals to access your accounts. Think 12+ characters with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. A reminder to use a different password for each account, none of them easy to guess.
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Avoid using public WiFi for sensitive activity: Public networks are less secure than your private network because you don’t know who set them up or who else is connecting, which can make it easier for others to intercept information. Save banking, shopping or account logins for a secure, private connection.
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Be mindful with social media: Personal details, like family names, locations or routines, can be pieced together and used to make scams feel more convincing – and even short videos can be used to clone voices. Set your profiles to private and turn off location in your device’s settings. Take a moment to review your posts and remove unnecessary information.
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Keep devices and software up to date: Regular updates to your operating system and apps patch known security vulnerabilities that scammers know to exploit. Keeping your devices and software updated puts a lock on your digital door.
3. Explore security tools
Many banks, like RBC, offer digital banking security tools that can be activated either through Online Banking or the Mobile App. These tools are designed to help protect clients’ accounts and assets from fraud.
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Alerts: Real-time notifications for purchases, withdrawals or low balances make it easier to spot unusual activity. Transactions that don’t match typical patterns, such as a new location or unfamiliar merchant, are automatically flagged with the option to approve or decline on the spot.
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Autodeposit: Sends money directly to your account, so you don’t need to log in or share security answers – reducing the risk of interception or accidentally exposing your banking credentials to scammers.
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Card Lock: If a card is misplaced, it can be instantly locked through Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app. This can help prevent unauthorized use while your card is out of sight.
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2-Step Verification: When logging into your bank account or completing a transaction, you’ll receive a notification on your trusted device asking you to approve. This ensures that even if someone has your login credentials, you can decline login attempts and stop unauthorized transactions.
Read our article to learn how to activate these tools in only a few steps.
4. Establish a family safety net
While technology plays an important role in preventing fraud, the right human support matters just as much.
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Set a family code word: Emergency scams, like the grandparent scam, rely on urgency and emotion. A simple code word shared within the family can help quickly confirm whether a frantic situation is real.
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Designate a trusted contact: When something unexpected happens – especially involving technology or finances – it’s helpful to know exactly who to call. Choosing one trusted family member or friend as a go-to reduces the chance of accepting help from an unfamiliar or unsolicited source. If that person is you, bookmark our Digital Safety and Scams for complete reporting steps.
Staying safer, together
Protecting the seniors in our lives involves care and support – checking in, having conversations and providing a listening ear if something doesn’t feel right. This kind of connection builds confidence, reduces isolation and makes it easier to ask for a second opinion. With a few everyday habits and some ongoing awareness, you can help the people you care about feel more secure and better prepared for whatever shows up online.
For more quick tips on how to proactively protect yourself or a loved one, view our
FAQ
While anyone can be targeted, seniors are often approached because they tend to have established savings, strong credit and a high level of trust in institutions and authority figures. In some cases, living alone can also make it harder to verify a suspicious situation.
Staying safe starts with a conversation. Creating a supportive, judgment-free environment makes it easier to talk about suspicious situations. From there, simple steps like setting up alerts, reviewing common scams together and identifying a trusted contact can help reduce risk. The top scams affecting seniors article is a useful starting point.
A fake phone call isn’t always obvious, as caller ID can be spoofed (a call that looks like it’s from your bank, for instance, can in fact be from a scammer). The clearer signs are in the tone of the call and the request. If there is a pressure to act quickly, a request for secrecy or an ask for money, passwords or verification codes, be wary – these are all common red flags. If something feels off, hang up and contact the organization directly using a trusted number.
Sometimes, but not always. Acting quickly is key. Contact your financial institution right away so they can try to stop or reverse transactions. Just be sure to be cautious of anyone offering to recover lost funds for a fee, as these recovery scams are common.
RBC continues to invest in fraud detection systems, real-time alerts and security features designed to identify and stop suspicious activity. Clients also have access to tools like 2-Step Verification, Autodeposit and Card Lock along with educational resources to help them stay informed and protected. Visit our RBC’S Cyber Security Hub to learn more.
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
