Residents of Willow Tree Retirement Village recently came together for a timely lesson about digital and phone safety.

Members of the Honeydew police and CPF visited the village, and about 25 to 30 people attended the event and listened closely as the police and CPF members explained to the seniors ways in which they can protect themselves from fraud and scams.

The session highlighted the clever tricks that scammers use to steal personal and banking information, including phishing emails, suspicious phone calls, and other schemes that can target anyone, especially adults who may be less familiar with modern technology.

“The talk focused on how to recognise and protect oneself from bank fraud, both online and over the phone. Residents were given valuable tips on how to safeguard personal information, avoid falling victim to phishing scams, and how to spot suspicious calls or emails that may be fraudulent,” said the Honeydew CPF public relations officer, Michael Steyn.

The residents also learnt a few practical and easy-to-follow tips to help protect themselves further:

• Use strong, unique passwords, update them regularly and use multi-factor authentication where possible
• Report suspicious activity immediately by contacting your bank or relevant authorities if you suspect fraud
• Be careful with personal information, and never share banking details, PINs, or passwords over the phone unless you’re sure about the legitimacy of the request
• Verify phone calls: If someone claims to be calling from a bank or government service, hang up and call the official number directly to verify the call

Michael also added that it’s important for everyone to be informed and alert, as fraud is becoming more advanced. This visit gave the residents the confidence and skills to navigate the increasingly digital world safely to protect themselves and their finances.