Updated

Updated · Sheridan Media · Jun 17

Range to Host June 24 Internet Safety Lunch for Seniors as Scam Losses Top $7 Billion

Updated

Updated · Sheridan Media · Jun 17

Range to Host June 24 Internet Safety Lunch for Seniors as Scam Losses Top $7 Billion

Q: When AI can perfectly mimic a loved one's voice, how can anyone truly trust a phone call for help?

You cannot safely trust the voice alone anymore. AI voice cloning can now mimic a loved one closely enough that ordinary listeners often cannot tell the difference, especially when scammers add urgency, fear and caller ID spoofing. That is why internet safety programs like Range’s senior luncheon are increasingly stressing verification habits, not instinct. The practical fix is to treat any unexpected call for money, secrecy or immediate action as unverified, even if the voice sounds real. Hang up and call the person back using a number you already know is theirs, not the number that called you. If you cannot reach them, contact another family member, friend or institution directly. A real emergency can withstand a short verification delay; a scammer usually pushes back. Families can reduce risk by setting a private code word or question that only relatives know. That matters because a cloned voice can copy sound, but it cannot reliably answer a secret it was never given. Experts also advise agreeing in advance that no one will send money by gift card, wire transfer or crypto kiosk based only on a phone call. This matters especially for older adults. The FBI’s 2025 IC3 report said Americans 60 and older reported more than $7 billion in internet scam losses, with many cases likely unreported. AI-enabled “grandparent scams” are part of that trend. The safest rule is simple: trust procedures, not the voice.

1 articles · Updated · Sheridan Media · Jun 17

June 24 is the date for Range’s Internet Safety for Seniors Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at The Hub on Smith in Sheridan, where lunch will accompany a presentation on staying safe online.
Range said the session will cover recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and using email, social media and web browsing more safely as more seniors go online for communication, finances and services.
$7 billion in internet-scam losses was reported by Americans 60 and older in the FBI’s 2025 IC3 report, up about 60% from 2024 and well above the more than $4 billion reported by people in their 30s and 40s.
Wyoming and Montana senior centers across Range’s service area are part of the broader outreach, which the company says is meant to build confidence online amid likely underreported fraud losses.

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Sheridan Media29d ago

Range to Host Internet Safety Luncheon for Seniors in Sheridan Amid Rising Scam Losses

Are educational luncheons enough to fight crime rings using AI and crypto to target seniors for their life savings?

Billions are lost to reported scams, but what is the hidden cost of the fraud victims are too ashamed to report?

When AI can perfectly mimic a loved one's voice, how can anyone truly trust a phone call for help?

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1 total

Sheridan Media29d ago

Range to Host Internet Safety Luncheon for Seniors in Sheridan Amid Rising Scam Losses

Range to Host June 24 Internet Safety Lunch for Seniors as Scam Losses Top $7 Billion

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