What are the most common scams targeting seniors right now?

Phone-based vishing and fake tech-support calls, romance scams, phishing texts and emails, SIM-swapping, fake Wi-Fi "evil twin" networks, check washing, and title or deed fraud by mail are among the most commonly reported.

How can I tell if a phone call is a scam?

A legitimate agency or business will never demand immediate payment by gift card or wire transfer, ask you to stay on the line while you go to the bank, or ask you to confirm your full Social Security number over the phone. Hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.

What is vishing, and how is it different from regular phishing?

Vishing is phishing carried out by voice call rather than email or text. A caller impersonates a bank, government agency or tech company to pressure you into revealing personal information or moving money quickly.

How do I protect against identity theft and SIM-swapping?

Freeze your credit with the three major bureaus, set up a PIN or passcode with your mobile carrier so a SIM cannot be transferred without it, and watch for your phone suddenly losing signal — that can be the first sign of a SIM swap in progress.

What should I do if I think I've been scammed?

Contact your bank or card issuer immediately, file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and with local police, and change any passwords that may have been exposed. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of stopping or reversing a transaction.

Does Fred Flamer speak publicly about senior scam prevention?

Yes — Fred gives talks on senior cybersecurity and fraud prevention for community groups, libraries and senior centers. Reach out through the contact links on this site to inquire about a speaking engagement.

Malicious Attachment Awareness · seniorsecured.org

Malicious Attachment Awareness

Information on how to deal with malicious attachments

Fred Flamer· September 1, 2026· 2 min read

By Fred Flamer

I wanted to take some time to explain what malicious attachments are because they continue to be one of the most common ways that cybercriminals compromise computers and steal information.

The simplest way that I can explain it is this: a malicious attachment is a file that has been attached to an email, text message, or download by someone with malicious intent. The goal of that file is usually to infect, trick, spy on, or otherwise compromise your device when it is opened.

Unfortunately, these files are rarely obvious. Attackers know that most people would never willingly open a file named "virus.exe", so they disguise them as things that appear normal and routine.

Some common examples include:

Invoices
Shipping notifications
Password reset documents
Resumes
Tax documents
PDF files
Microsoft Word or Excel files
ZIP or RAR compressed files

I know that this is a lot, but anytime you receive an attachment that you were not expecting, your internal antenna should immediately go up.

One of the first things I look for is the file extension. A file extension is simply the last part of the file name that appears after the period.

Examples include:

report.pdf
picture.jpg
document.docx

There are several file extensions that deserve extra caution:

.exe
.zip
.rar
.docm
.xlsm
.js
.lnk

Some of these are used legitimately, but they are also frequently abused by attackers.

Of all of them, the most common and potentially dangerous is ".exe", which stands for executable. In simple terms, an executable file is designed to run software on your computer. If that software happens to be malicious, opening it can immediately compromise your device.

Attackers also use a trick known as a "double-extension" file. Examples include:

invoice.pdf.exe
photo.jpg.scr
receipt.docx.exe

At first glance, these files may appear to be harmless documents or pictures. In reality, the final extension determines what the file actually is.

The good news is that companies like Microsoft and Google automatically scan many attachments before they reach your inbox. These protections stop countless threats every day. However, attackers are constantly looking for ways to bypass those defenses, and occasionally they succeed.

For that reason, I follow a simple rule:

If I wasn't expecting the attachment, I don't open it until I verify it.

That verification might be as simple as checking the file extension, calling the sender, or sending them a quick message to confirm they actually sent it.

When in doubt, delete it.

A few seconds of caution can prevent malware infections, identity theft, financial fraud, and even ransomware attacks.

In cybersecurity, sometimes the safest click is the one you never make.

-Fin-

#SeniorSecured #MaliciousAttachments #ThinkBeforeYouClick #EmailSafety #StopThinkVerify

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