Seniors encouraged to embrace technology to guard against scammers

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr., is encouraging senior citizens to become more technologically savvy, in order to be less vulnerable to scammers.

The minister was addressing the graduation ceremony of the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) digital literacy course, held recently at the HEART College of Innovation and Technology in St James.

Some 37 senior citizens graduated from the 10-week course, aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors by making them more technologically inclined.

Charles Jr. outlined that the course also aims to improve the seniors' functionality for them to be better able to safeguard themselves from swindlers.

“What you're doing in terms of computer literacy and digital literacy is allowing you to function in this world that's already there. So, while we are improving your functionality, we are also allowing you to protect yourself from scammers. The reality is, who do they prey on? It's never a matter of age, you know. It's a matter of vulnerability,” he said.

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The minister pointed out that senior citizens are not the only ones susceptible to scamming, as anyone who is digitally illiterate could be a target.

“So, if you are young and don't know, they're going to prey on you. If you're old and don't know, they're going to prey on you. It just so happens that mostly older people have the mindset that they don't need to know about it, so they (scammers) choose that cohort. What is going to happen over time is that those persons will realise that you have now educated yourself,” Charles Jr. said.

He told the seniors that not only are they improving their knowledge base by being digitally literate but now they are able to pass on knowledge.

Charles Jr. also reminded the graduates that they are never too old to make a difference.

“You have to just look at it from the perspective that several of those seniors who have made a massive global impact, they faced a lot of rejection, a lot of failure, a lot of fear, and I hope that it is a reminder that age is truly just a number. It doesn't define your potential; your age doesn't limit your dreams. It should permit you to acknowledge your experience,” he said.

This month is being observed as Senior Citizens Month, under the theme 'Promoting Healthy, Active, Productive Ageing'.