Guardians of the Digital Nest: Protecting Elders and Children from Online Predators

An elder becomes a victim of a digital scam every 40 seconds. A child comes across predatory content on the internet every minute. The more time our most vulnerable people spend online, the more effectively fraudsters are able to take advantage of their trust. Here's how to protect the digital frontline of your family.

Why Elders and Children Are Major Targets:

                  Elders                                                  Children

• Often own significant assets                  • Digitally native but naive

• Less tech familiarity                               • Trusting of "friends" online

• Social isolation increases risk                • Gaming/influencer vulnerabilities

Real-World Consequences:

• Grandparent Scams: In 2024, elders lost $200 million because to phony "grandchild in jail" calls (FTC)

• Children were duped into divulging their parents' credit cards in order to obtain "free V-Bucks" in a Fortnite scam.

• Predatory Apps: According to NCMEC, 1 in 5 kids get offensive messages on gaming platforms.

The Top 5 Frauds Endangering Your Family

• The "Virus detected!" pop-ups that appear in the "Tech Support" trap coerce elders into allowing remote access.

• Red Flag: Unwanted calls purporting to be from Apple or Microsoft support.

Scams Using Emotional Blackmail

• Impostor calls that take advantage of elders' affection, saying, "Mom, I'm in jail—send bail money!"

• Red Flag: The caller requests bitcoin payments and confidentiality.

Fraudulent "Free Rewards" in-game Roblox/Fortnite generators that steal children's login information.

• A Warning: "Enter parents' credit card to verify account."

Predators on Social Media

• 75% of strangers who pose as teenagers to request sexual content begin on gaming sites.

• Requests to transfer conversations to "private apps" like WhatsApp are a warning sign.

Fraudulent "Scholarships"

• Children's SSNs are being harvested for identity theft using fake education grants.

• Red Flag: "It's urgent! Verify your information to get funding.

4-Point Tech Lockdown Family Defense Plan

• Elders: Set up ad blockers (uBlock Origin) and call screening (Nomorobo).

• Children: Turn on parental controls with restrictions on games and apps (Bark, Qustodio).

- The Rule of "Verify First"

• Instruct both groups to: → Never click cold links or pop-ups → Always use family codewords to confirm an emergency → Always pause before disclosing any personal information

- Frequent Online Check-Ins

• Check the bank statements of the elderly for any minor "test" withdrawals.

• Check kids' friend lists for questionable accounts.

- Together, bookmark reliable websites to steer clear of typosquatting pitfalls.

- Training through Simulation

• Conduct fictitious schemes (such as phony "free iPad" emails) to cultivate innate mistrust.

Bayon Technologies Group: Your Family’s Digital Shield

Protecting loved ones requires enterprise-grade vigilance. Bayon extends corporate security to homes with:

✅ Family Threat Monitoring: 24/7 dark web scanning for compromised credentials

✅ Child Safety Audits: Social media/gaming platform vulnerability assessments

✅ Elder Scam Simulations: Customized phishing/call fraud drills

✅ Secure Digital Wills: Encrypted legacy planning to prevent inheritance fraud

Don’t wait until a grandparent’s life savings vanish or a child’s innocence is stolen! Contact Bayon Technologies Group for a FREE consultation today!