How To Protect a Relative With Limited Tech Literacy From Scams
Practical ways to help a family member who is less comfortable with technology spot and avoid online and phone scams.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Not everyone grows up with technology, and that is not a character flaw. Family members who are less confident online can face greater risk from tech-support scams, phishing emails, and fake pop-ups — simply because the warning signs are harder to recognise without prior experience. Patient, supportive help makes a real difference.
Understand their specific vulnerabilities
The scams that catch less tech-savvy users tend to exploit unfamiliarity with how legitimate organisations actually communicate.
- Tech-support popup scams: alarming browser alerts claiming a virus must be removed by calling a number
- Phishing emails that look official but come from suspicious addresses
- Fake parcel delivery texts, since online shopping is increasingly common
- Banking impersonation calls, where the caller seems credible because they know account details
Build simple, memorable rules
Complex advice is hard to apply under pressure. A few simple rules are far more useful.
- Rule 1: No real company needs you to call a number that appeared in a pop-up
- Rule 2: Always call me before clicking a link or calling a number from an email or text
- Rule 3: If in doubt, close the browser and restart the device — this fixes most fake 'virus' scares
- Rule 4: Legitimate organisations do not need your password
Set up their device securely
A few one-time changes significantly reduce the technical attack surface.
- Enable automatic operating-system and browser updates
- Install a reputable security package with phishing-site blocking
- Set up a bookmark for their bank rather than letting them search each time
- Enable two-factor authentication on email and online banking
Conversation script
“I just want to show you one thing — if your computer ever shows a scary pop-up with a phone number, the number is fake. You don't need to call it. Just close the window.”
“Can I set up a bookmark for your bank? That way you never need to search for it and land on a fake site.”
“Whenever something on the computer worries you, just call me before you do anything. There is no problem I can't help with.”
Frequently asked questions
What if they are too embarrassed to ask for help when something seems wrong?
Frame it proactively: agree in advance that calling you is the normal thing to do whenever something technical looks odd. Removing the need to admit confusion makes it much easier to ask.
Is a pop-up saying my computer has a virus dangerous?
Pop-up alerts in a web browser claiming to detect a virus are almost always fake. They are designed to make you call a number and pay for fake 'tech support'. Close the tab or browser. If the pop-up cannot be closed, restart the device. A real antivirus alert appears as a system notification, not a website pop-up.