seniors | David M Masters

How Can Seniors Avoid Scams When Offered Online Opportunity?

There are a few scammers on the Internet who prey on seniors attempting to learn how to build an online business. They may promise immediate success (know that there’s no such thing) and charge you an astronomical amount of money for their courses or sure-fired methods of making money online.

It’s like purchasing a frozen pizza in a box with a picture that looks like the most delectable pizza you’ve ever seen. Then, when you open the box to heat and eat it, it looks like someone played a joke on you. There may be a few sprinkles of cheese and a teaspoon of sauce – nothing like the picture on the box.

That’s what scammers do to would-be online senior entrepreneurs. They paint a pretty and exciting picture of making a fortune in no time at all. Unfortunately, there is rarely a quick way to make an immediate fortune online.

That doesn’t mean that everyone offering courses or charging you for advice is a scammer, but if you come in contact with a marketer who doesn’t respond to your emails asking for information or who tries to push you into a multi-level marketing situation – beware.

Check out the reputation of the people who are offering once-in-a-lifetime deals where you have to buy it now or the price goes up astronomically. Also, promising that you’ll make money on the first day if you just plug in and then sit back and watch the dollars roll in is just not true.

Fortunately, there are great marketers who offer real-time help that will get your business up and running. They’ll walk with you along the way and take you under their wings when you’re having doubts or problems.

Forums are excellent places to sort out who’s who in the Internet marketing world. Get to know the marketer before you do business with him or her and don’t shell out your hard-earned money until you know it’s legit.

The truth about making money on the Internet is that you have to know how to use a computer (many scammers claim you don’t) and you have to know your way around the Internet. If anyone tells you differently, beware.

Understanding how things work online will help you reach success faster than any scheme that a scamming marketer could. The reputable marketers are out there and ready and willing to help you learn all you need to know about becoming an Internet entrepreneur.

To senior citizens looking to make money online, it’s important to exercise caution and be aware of potential scams. Unfortunately, seniors can sometimes be more vulnerable to online scams due to a lack of familiarity with the digital landscape.

How Can Seniors Avoid Scams Online?

Here’s some advice to help them navigate this space and avoid falling victim to scams:

Research Thoroughly
- Before getting involved with any online opportunity, take the time to research the company, the offer, and the people behind it.
- Look for reviews, ratings, and independent sources of information.
Avoid Get-Rich-Quick Schemes
- Be skeptical of offers that promise huge profits with little effort or in a very short time.
- Legitimate ways to make money usually require effort, time, and skill.
Check for Legitimacy
- Check whether the company or individual promoting the opportunity has a legitimate online presence.
- Scammers often create fake websites and profiles.
- Verify their contact information, physical address, and online reviews.
Protect Personal Information
- Be cautious about sharing personal and financial information online.
- Legitimate companies won’t ask for sensitive information right away.
Beware of High-Pressure Tactics
- Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to create urgency and force quick decisions.
- Take your time to evaluate an opportunity and don’t feel obligated to make a decision on the spot.
Look for Contact Information
- Check if there’s a way to contact the company or person behind the offer.
- The lack of accessible contact information is a red flag.
Trust Your Instincts
- If an offer seems too good to be true or makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably a scam.
- Trust your instincts and don’t ignore warning signs.
Consult Trusted Sources
- Before committing to anything, discuss the opportunity with friends, family, or a financial advisor.
- Sometimes an outside perspective can help identify potential scams.
Educate Yourself
- Familiarize yourself with common online scams and their tactics.
- Knowing what to look out for can greatly reduce the risk of falling victim.
Use Secure Payment Methods
- If an online opportunity requires payment, use secure and reputable payment methods.
- Avoid wire transfers or sending money through unconventional channels.
Stay Updated on Scams
- Scammers constantly adapt their tactics.
- Stay informed about the latest scams by checking official government websites and consumer protection organizations.
Enable Security Measures
- Make sure your computer, smartphone, and other devices have updated security software and firewall protections to safeguard against phishing attempts and malware.
Be Cautious with Unsolicited Offers
- If you receive unsolicited emails, messages, or phone calls with offers that sound too good to be true, exercise caution.
- Legitimate opportunities are usually not presented in such a manner.
Report Suspicious Activity
- If you come across a potential scam or suspicious offer, report it to relevant authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US or similar agencies in your country.

Remember that while there are legitimate ways to make money online, there are also numerous scams preying on unsuspecting individuals, including seniors. By staying informed, remaining cautious, and following the tips mentioned above, you can greatly reduce the risk of falling victim to online scams.

This just in,

Plus, you might find that you’re doing business with a friend, only to find that the person you are dealing with is a criminal masquerading as your friend.

One such case is Simon who had his identity cloned for committing cyber crimes where unwitting social media users were conned into sending the fake Simon $6000.

The authorities sought out the real Simon, and this is what he had to say,

To all social media users,

I do not engage with any financial transactions on any social media platforms. A few members have been scammed into giving $6000 to a person pretending to be me on social media platforms. Under no circumstances should anybody part with any money.

I don’t get into conversations on social media platforms, and anyone pretending to be me should be reported. If you have paid money please go to your local police and report this, as a scam.

Sadly this is very common, and all the leading names have cloned websites or people pretending to be them.

Simon

See also: Help Gramma Don’t Tell Mom jail/accident Send Cash (average loss $9000)

When Therapy Breaks Families: Reclaiming the Bond Between Parents and Adult Children

In the sacred space of a counseling room, where healing is meant to occur, there’s a shadow that sometimes sneaks in unnoticed—the temptation to oversimplify blame. Like many practitioners, I’ve found myself reaching for a tool from the Freudian psychiatric bag of tricks that too often brings swift results at a steep cost: pointing the finger at the parents.

It works. That’s the heartache of it. Assigning blame to mom or dad often lifts a burden off the adult child’s shoulders, if only temporarily. In those moments, I can almost feel the client’s body exhale with the relief of having found a scapegoat for their pain. But then I see something else begin to take root: estrangement, emotional distance, and often, a full-on disconnection from the very people who gave them life.

And I feel it; regret. Guilt. Because I know I’ve added another stone to the wall being built between generations. This method can work through to a cohesive and healthy conclusion, if the client is willing to remain active in the process and continue the work, but more often than not, once the client experiences relief, they disengage from the process.

Add to this, the growing movement in our society, quiet in its spread but deafening in its consequences. Adult children are cutting off their parents, not in response to abuse or violence, but often due to unresolved emotional misunderstandings, unspoken expectations, and culturally promoted ideals that equate discomfort with danger.

Our culture now rewards the language of therapy-speak: “emotional boundaries,” “toxic energy,” “my truth.” And while these tools can help people find clarity, they can also be twisted into weapons of disconnection. Current trends among pop psychology influencers proclaim that your healing begins by removing anyone who doesn’t unconditionally validate your feelings. And that message is often interpreted as: “Distance yourself from your parents.”

But is that healing? Or is it a form of socially sanctioned abandonment?

Scripture warned, “In the last days, people will be lovers of themselves… disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection.” – 2 Timothy 3

It’s happening. And no one wants to admit how common it’s become.

The Hidden Casualty: Loving Parents Left Behind

The hardest part? These aren’t evil, abusive, or neglectful parents. Many of them are loving, deeply flawed human beings who did their best. They sacrificed, they endured, they gave, even if imperfectly. And now, they’re left with unanswered texts, silent holidays, and hearts full of confusion and grief.

These parents still have wisdom to share, warmth to give, and a legacy of love they long to pass down. But their children, guided by a cultural narrative that equates past pain with present danger, have decided the relationship is no longer worth the effort.

It’s a new kind of orphanhood, this time initiated by the child.

A Confession

I’ll say it plainly: I’ve helped break families apart. Not maliciously. Not knowingly. But by leaning too heavily on the “blame the parents” paradigm in an attempt to produce quick relief. I now realize that this is not healing, it’s emotional amputation. It may stop the pain, but it also cuts off the connection.

Yes, there are times when space is necessary. Yes, some parental relationships are damaging. But most of the time, what’s needed isn’t disconnection; it’s compassion, clarity, and communication.

I no longer default to the parent-blame card. Now, I pause. I listen more deeply. I hold space for the pain without pushing blame. And I advocate for healing that keeps the door open to reconciliation, not slammed shut by resentment.

What Can We Do Instead?

Here’s what I suggest for those of us who work in the healing arts, and for those navigating estranged family relationships:

1. Redefine Healing

Healing is not about cutting off everyone who triggered your pain. It’s about becoming strong enough to engage with the past without being controlled by it. True maturity includes grace, not just boundaries.

1. Honor the Story Without Dismissing the Relationship

Encourage clients to acknowledge their pain while still recognizing the complexity of their parents’ humanity. Pain and love can coexist. Forgiveness isn’t forgetting; it’s freedom.

1. Restore Curiosity

Invite both parties to seek understanding rather than proof. Ask questions like, “What did your parent go through?” or “What might they have meant by that?” Curiosity can melt walls.

1. Model Healthy Dialogue

Instead of ghosting a parent, model how to set loving but clear boundaries through direct, respectful conversation. A letter, a voice note, a therapy-guided conversation, all of these can prevent unnecessary heartbreak.

1. Encourage the Long View

Relationships evolve. A season of distance doesn’t have to be permanent. Encourage patience and hope. A prodigal may return when the time is right.

1. If You’re the Parent—Keep Loving Anyway

To the parents who’ve been cut off: you are not forgotten by God. You’re not alone. Keep praying. Keep writing those birthday cards, even if they’re not opened. Keep believing that your love, however imperfect, still matters.

Rebuilding Hope

Families are the foundational unit of society, and their breakdown weakens us all. We are in a cultural moment where the sacredness of that bond is under attack—not by war or disease, but by ideology and influence disguised as empowerment.

But there’s hope. Just as quickly as division can be sown, healing can be ignited. One conversation, one brave apology, one honest sharing of pain can reopen the heart.

Let us be those who mend bridges, not burn them. Let us counsel with grace, speak with compassion, and refuse to let “cutting off” become a default solution for pain. Families don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be willing.

To the estranged: Your parent may not have gotten everything right, but they may have done more right than you realize.

To the parents: Your love was not in vain. Keep the porch light on. Prodigals still come home.

No Jobs for Advanced-age Employees

You might not notice unless you are 55 to 70 years old, but if you are, it is ever apparent that there are very few jobs available for individuals in this age bracket, and the future looks bleak as well. What they say appears to be true, there are no jobs for advanced-age employees. What are our older wage earners going to do without the income that they need for basic survival?

When the pandemic hit, the 55-to-70-year-olds were promptly laid off, and as the lockdowns continue, it looks as though returning to work may not be an option for these unfortunate folks. Even if they have Social Security to fall back on, unless they also have independent retirement benefits to rely on, they are going to be terribly unfortunate. Even so, many of our elderly who can work do so into their eighties and nineties.

Even though they may have a reduced capacity to work, they still have a desire to serve and add value to the community because they are still driven to participate and contribute, even though their peers have opted out of the workforce. They are high-functioning and still feel like they have plenty to offer, and they have far more to offer than you might think.

Some cultures consider their elders to be highly regarded in terms of their experience and wisdom if they have earned it by living a good life. These older members of society are honored and invited to participate in leadership or support roles, and they are consulted with prior to making decisions that may have an impact on the greater community.

Cultures that hold the wisdom of their elders in high regard include Native Americans, Greeks, Indians, Koreans, Romans, and Chinese. Though the present-day Chinese reverence for their elders is waning due to the westernization of China in general.

After the pandemic restrictions are lifted, it appears that there will be very few jobs available for older Americans as more youthful workers will be flooding the job-related landscape.

Many of them can see the writings on the wall and they know there is little to look forward to, so the most ambitious of them are delving into starting their own businesses and entrepreneurialism, which makes more sense than anything, especially in a time when Americans are starting new businesses at a more rapid pace than at any time in recorded history.

This is the new wave of entrepreneurialism that is empowering the nation to assimilate a lifestyle they may have only dreamed of until faced with having to discover a way to mitigate the damages of the government shutting down the private sector across the board.

As necessity is the mother of invention, so is entrepreneurialism the answer to joblessness.

Regardless of your age, you were born with a unique and individual purpose, message, passion, and mission to deliver to the greater community. Any of these facets of the “real you,” the you that you were destined to be, or the you that emerged as you worked your way through this life, could easily be turned into a business. In this respect, older Americans can bring far more to the table than younger adults.

What they bring to the table are experience and wisdom. Youth may encapsulate enthusiasm, but only with age comes wisdom, something that has been disregarded in the present day. And that is okay. If no one else values the wisdom they can contribute, they can take first-hand responsibility for their own contribution.

You will find them writing books, creating consulting agencies, opening coaching practices, and starting their own businesses. They are expanding their functionality amid the community space offering unparalleled value while monetizing their special gifts and abilities, many for the first time in their lives.

Even if later in life, our elders are finally enjoying an increased earning ability while they exercise their freedom and dispense their wisdom in so many ways. They are living a better life, their best lives, and making the world a better place.