The Question for Your Parents

There's a conversation most adult children haven't had with their parents yet. Not because they don't care. Because they don't know how to start it without it feeling like an accusation or a lecture. This is the way in.

There's one question worth asking them this weekend, maybe over coffee, a phone call, or while watching their favorite TV show. Before something happens, to proactively nip it in the bud sorta speak.

Has anyone ever randomly called you, saying they were from a timeshare company or from Medicare, the IRS, your bank, or they were a family member in trouble? Did the call leave you wondering whether it's real?

Notice what that question does. It doesn't put them on the spot. It doesn't accuse them of falling for anything. It just opens the door for an important conversation.

In this moment, you're listening for two things, really:

1. Whether they've actually been targeted. Almost everyone has, even if they don't recognize it as targeting.
2. Whether they have a plan for the next call.

The plan will be simple. You don't need them to memorize anything technical at all. You only need them to remember one thing: hang up and call back the official number, always, every time, no matter how urgent the caller makes it sound. The timeshare company will always be there. The bank will still be there. The IRS will still be there. Their grandchild will still be there.

The sense of urgency, the fear, is the catch. It's how the scammer gets them.

If your parents say, "I never get those calls, baby," they probably do. They just don't notice. Tell them you'll forward an example next time you see one.

Conversely, if they say something to the effect of "I get calls like that all the time," then you should congratulate them. They're already doing a hard part. Then you can walk through the hang up and call back rule together.

Either way, you've now had the conversation. Your mind is at ease, their mind is at ease, no more anxiety, and your Cyber is Zen.