A Scourge Affecting Many Families
You may have already experienced this scene. Your mother calls you, worried, because a message on her screen told her that her computer was infected and she needed to call an emergency number. Or your father received an email from Ameli asking him to update his bank details to receive a refund.
These aren't rare cases. They're extremely widespread, sophisticated scams that primarily target people least familiar with digital technology.
People over 65 represent the most frequent victims of online scams, according to national gendarmerie data. Not because they're naive — but because they haven't had time to familiarize themselves with digital codes, and scammers know it perfectly well.
This article is for children, relatives, caregivers — and also seniors themselves who want to know how to protect themselves. We describe the most common scams in our region and concrete reflexes to avoid them.
The 6 Most Common Scams Targeting Seniors
1. Fake Tech Support (The Most Common)
How it happens: A message suddenly appears on the screen, sometimes accompanied by a shrill alert sound. It says the computer is infected with a dangerous virus and you must immediately call a phone number. Once on the line, the "technician" asks to take remote control of the computer to "clean" the virus — and takes advantage to access banking data, or requests payment for the "service".
How to recognize it: Microsoft, Apple, your operator or any real tech company will NEVER contact you this way. A real antivirus doesn't ask you to call a phone number.
What to do: Turn off the computer directly (press the power button for several seconds). Don't call any number. Don't give access to anything. Then call a trusted person or professional to verify everything is okay.
2. Phishing (Fake Official Emails)
How it happens: You receive an email that seems to come from Ameli, taxes, La Poste, Amazon, or your bank. It tells you there's a problem with your account, a pending refund, or urgent action needed. It contains a link you're invited to click to "regularize the situation".
This link leads to a fake site that looks exactly like the real one. You're asked to enter your credentials, bank card number, or social security number. This information is immediately used to empty accounts or steal your identity.
How to recognize it:
- The sender's email address is strange (for example: service-client@ameli-remboursements.fr instead of @ameli.fr)
- The message creates urgency ("within 48 hours", "your account will be blocked")
- It asks for information the real organization already has
- The site address in the navigation bar doesn't end in .gouv.fr or official .fr
What to do: Don't click. Close the email. If you think it might be real, go directly to the real site by typing its address in your browser — never go through a link received by email.
3. Fake Refunds and Surprise Checks
How it happens: An SMS or email announces that you're entitled to a Social Security refund, an energy premium, or an overpayment. To receive it, you just need to enter your bank details.
These scams take advantage of real government campaigns (energy check, COVID aid, MaPrimeRénov') to give an appearance of legitimacy.
The golden rule: The State and social organizations NEVER ask for your bank details by SMS or email to pay you aid. If you're entitled to something, the information will be on your personal space on real official sites.
4. Romance and Fake Friendship Scams
How it happens: A person makes contact on Facebook, a forum or sometimes even by SMS. They're warm, attentive, and gradually create a relationship of trust over weeks. Then one day, they explain being in a difficult situation — accident abroad, illness, urgent expenses — and ask for a transfer or deposit to an account.
These scams target lonely or isolated people. They play on affection and trust patiently built. The amounts lost can be very large.
How to recognize it: Someone you only know on the Internet, who's never available for a video call, whose story always has an unexpected dramatic turn, and who ends up asking for money — it's a scam.
What to do: Talk to a relative before any money transfer, whatever the pretext. Never wire money to someone you've never met physically.
5. Fake Subscriptions and Trapped Downloads
How it happens: While browsing the Internet, you click a button that seems to download something useful (an update, a PDF document), or that lets you watch a video. In reality, you've just subscribed to a paid subscription — often discreetly charged monthly.
How to recognize it: Be wary of sites that ask for your bank details to access "free" content. Carefully read what you're committing to before clicking.
6. SMS Scams (Smishing)
How it happens: An SMS seems to come from an official organization (La Poste, Chronopost, taxes, toll) and asks you to click a link to track a package, pay a small customs fee, or regularize a situation.
These SMS are often very well imitated. But the link leads to a fake site that steals your information.
The golden rule: NEVER click on a link received by SMS, even if it seems to come from a known organization. Go directly to the real site to verify.
How to Create the Right Reflexes in Your Loved Ones
The Phrase to Remember and Repeat
Put simply: "If something worries me on my screen, I don't call any number and I don't click anything. I close everything and call a trusted person or professional."
Warning Signs to Watch
- A parent talks about a "very helpful technician" who helped them remotely for payment
- Unknown charges appear on their bank statement
- They receive many "urgent" emails from official organizations
- An online "friend" has become very important in their life and can never show themselves on video
Some Simple Technical Protections
Even without being an expert, we can implement some basic protections:
- Enable call filtering on smartphone to block unknown numbers
- Install antivirus up to date on computer (real ones — not those offered by pop-ups!)
- Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts (email, bank)
- Use an updated browser (Chrome, Firefox or Edge in their latest version)
- Use different passwords for each important account
nexIT Helps Protect Your Loved Ones
At nexIT, we offer online scam awareness workshops for seniors in Le Mans and Sarthe. The goal: recognize traps, know how to react, and be more confident facing unusual situations.
We can also intervene at home to:
- Verify that the computer or smartphone contains no malware
- Implement basic protections
- Train a parent or grandparent in the right reflexes, at their pace
If your loved one has already been a victim of a scam, it's important to talk about it without shame and file a complaint. We can help you with the procedures.
In Case of Confirmed Scam: The Right Reflexes
- Block your bank card if you've communicated your details (call your bank immediately)
- Change your passwords on affected accounts
- File a complaint at the nearest gendarmerie or police station
- Report the scam on signal-spam.fr to help protect other people
- Talk to a relative or trusted professional to assess the damage
nexIT — Digital assistance and online scam awareness, in Le Mans and Sarthe.
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