New Safety Technology to Protect NY Elderly From Digital Scams

A new year is on the way, and with it comes a little more peace of mind for older adults who worry about falling victim to scams.

Beginning in January, the New York State Office for the Aging will introduce a new tool to help seniors determine whether a message they receive is real. The program, SilverShield, gives users a simple way to check suspicious emails or texts.

Greg Olsen, who leads the New York State Office for Aging, explained the idea in a very down-to-earth way. He said that when he gets a message claiming he forgot to pay a toll and urging him to click a link, he can just forward that message to SilverShield.

The system then analyzes the wording and other details and sends back a quick assessment of how likely it is to be a scam.

If the message looks dangerous, the tool also offers guidance on what steps to take and what to avoid. Olsen noted that if a scam appears especially risky, the information can be shared more widely to warn others in the community.

Once SilverShield launches, it will cost five dollars a month, though many seniors with limited incomes may qualify to use it at no cost. Anyone interested will be able to sign up through their local office for aging.

Support is also growing at the national level. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing a bipartisan plan that would require the FBI to work with other agencies to strengthen the response to scammers. She pointed out that Americans lost billions of dollars last year and hopes this effort will help turn the tide.

More resources on staying safe can be found at the New York State Office for the Aging HERE.