“Dad, don’t click that link”
How to protect parents from online scams without making them feel like boomers
Last month, my dad forwarded me a message that read:
“Your XXX bank account will be blocked today due to non-KYC update. Click immediately.”
His account? With an entirely different bank.
His question? “Should I click?”
If you’ve ever had to explain the difference between a real bank message and an online scam one to your parents (more than once), you’re not alone. Our parents are digital citizens now. They’re UPI-ing, reeling, and (bless them) forwarding ‘good morning’ messages at lightning speed. But behind the convenience lurks danger.
According to the 2025 Safer Internet India report, online scams targeting seniors rose by a whopping 86% between 2020 and 2022, based on National Crime Records Bureau data. The top tactics: Phishing, fake links, and fraudulent ads. And the fraudsters? Slicker, sneakier, and convincing enough to fool even the savviest dadi or daddy.
“The most common scams I see? Fake barcodes, online banking frauds, digital arrest threats and now, AI-generated voice or video impersonations,” says Puneet Bhasin, cyber law and privacy expert and founder of Cyberjure Legal, who represents India on the United Nations Digital Public Goods Alliance Privacy Framework. “Scammers use voice modulation and deepfake video calls to impersonate family members, create panic, and ask for money. They sound, and sometimes even look, familiar. That’s exactly why people fall for it.”
Ask 62-year-old Shanta Patil from Pune. She received a call saying her electricity would be cut in 30 minutes unless she paid ₹1,499 via a WhatsApp link. “The man knew my name, area, even my metre reading, and he sounded confident,” she recalls. “I didn’t want the power to go, so I paid. Later, I realised my bill wasn’t even due.” The lights stayed on. Her money? Gone.
It’s not just about tech savviness. “Our parents grew up in a world where trust was the default, not suspicion,” says Dr Anjali Mehta, a private clinical psychologist based in Noida. “That mindset doesn’t disappear just because they’re using smartphones. They also didn’t grow up navigating digital deception, so while they may have the tech in their hands, they don’t always have the internal filters or digital reflexes to protect themselves. Their instinct is still to believe, not to doubt.”
And most are genuinely trying their best. But between confusing updates, shady calls, and intimidating pop-ups, it’s easy to fall prey to online scams. According to the same report, 45% of senior citizens in India say they’re not confident in their ability to identify fraud. Add to that a reluctance to “trouble the kids” with every small tech doubt, and what happens? Click.
So, how do we talk to parents without embarrassing them? Let’s face it: no parent wants to be tech-splained by their child. The goal isn’t to control, but to open up a safe, shame-free conversation.
How to ensure your parents are safe from online scams
Share relatable examples
Sometimes, all it takes is a story that feels familiar to hit home. “I told my mom about a friend’s dad who lost ₹60,000 to a fake electricity bill message,” says Neha Desai, 32, a teacher from Mumbai. “It clicked instantly. Now she’s extra careful with anything that says ‘urgent’ or ‘blocked’.”
Make it safe to ask for help
Kimberly D’Souza, 34, a homemaker in Goa, made it a family rule: when in doubt, send a screenshot. “Now my mom forwards messages with a ‘Is this real?’ before she clicks anything,” she says. “Everyone does it, so she doesn’t feel awkward asking.” Even better, her mom now helps friends spot scams in their WhatsApp group.
Teach the red flags
Encourage them to pause before reacting. “I’ve taught my parents a few signs they can easily remember,” says Mohita Sinha, 31, a media professional in Lucknow. “First, urgency is a trick (real services don’t threaten to cut off electricity or block your bank account out of nowhere. There’s always a proper process or prior warning). Bad grammar or awkward language is another red flag. And unknown links or numbers should always be treated with suspicion, no matter how official they sound.”
Quietly bulletproof their tech
Not every parent will remember to check URLs or report spam. But a few small changes can make a big difference. “I realised that I don’t need to lecture my parents on everything, and just quietly set up protections in the background,” says Radhika Shetty, 29, a Bengaluru-based product designer. “It’s like childproofing, but for parents.”
Here are a few simple steps that come expert recommended:
Turn off auto-download on WhatsApp: Viral videos and shady PDFs often download silently and tempt curiosity.
How to do it: Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Storage and Data > Media auto-download > Turn all options to ‘No’.
Enable 2-step verification (2FA): Adds an extra password or OTP step, even if a scammer has the login.
Set it up on Gmail, Paytm, PhonePe, and bank apps. It takes five minutes, tops.
Install scam-blocking apps: Apps like Truecaller or Norton Mobile Security flag spam calls and suspicious messages automatically.
Bookmark official sites: Instead of Googling “SBI login” (which can lead to phishing sites), bookmark real links for banking, Aadhaar, and bill payments.
Show them how to report and block: On WhatsApp: Long-press > ‘Report’; For unsolicited or spam messages: Forward to 1909; For major scams: Visit cybercrime.gov.in
Look into cyber insurance: “Premiums are low, and it can cover phishing, UPI fraud, even digital arrest scams,” says Bhasin. “It’s a small cost but a big safety net.”
Pro tip: Pick one new safety step a week. Do it together over chai, low-pressure.
It’s not about control; it’s about confidence
Many older adults never report online scams, especially men. “There’s stigma,” says Bhasin. “They’ve built families, managed money. Admitting they were fooled feels like failure.” Women, she notes, are often more open to speaking up. But silence can be risky.
That’s why celebrating small wins matters. So, the next time your dad proudly sends you a screenshot of a scam with a message like “Didn’t fall for it!”, don’t just nod. Celebrate it. That’s the win.
