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Prepare for the Conversation

Four personality types

Four personality types illustration

The Fiercely Independent

  • Values self-reliance
  • Resistant to interference
  • Can view an offer of help as a threat to autonomy

Approach

  • Emphasize how fraud prevention helps maintain independence
  • Present information as an "FYI" rather than advice
  • Ask for their expertise: "What precautions would you recommend to your friends?"

"Mom, I know you've always been great at managing your finances. I recently read about some new scams targeting retirees. What would you suggest people do to protect themselves?"

The Worrier

  • Anxious about finances
  • May avoid the topic out of fear
  • Has long been overly cautious about spending and saving

Approach

  • Provide reassurance along with information
  • Focus on action items rather than scary statistics
  • Offer to be a sounding board for financial decisions

"Dad, I know financial stuff can be stressful. What if we set up a system where you can easily double-check any financial requests with me? It might help put your mind at ease."

The Trusting Soul

  • Optimistic and believes in the good in people
  • May be too willing to share personal information
  • Could fall for "too good to be true" offers

Approach

  • Avoid criticizing their trusting nature
  • Share stories about how scammers exploit trust
  • Establish a "check first" policy for unsolicited offers

"Dad, your kindness is one of your best qualities. Unfortunately, there are people out there who take advantage of that. What if we agree that for any financial decision over $X, we chat about it first?"

The Tech-Savvy Senior

  • Comfortable with online banking and digital communication
  • May overestimate their ability to detect fraud
  • Could be vulnerable to sophisticated phishing attempts

Approach

  • Acknowledge their skills while highlighting new threats
  • Share information about the latest online scams
  • Encourage the use of additional security measures like two-factor authentication

"I'm impressed with how you've embraced online banking. Have you heard about these new AI-generated phishing emails? They're tricking even tech experts. Want to review some security settings together?"

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